Lagos Court acquits Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, upholds no case submission

The Presiding Magistrate of Tinubu Magistrate Court of Lagos State Chief Magistrate Adedamola Albert Paul,  has discharged and acquitted Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, the Baba Adinni of Lagos having upheld a “No Case Submission” filed by his defence team, describing the prosecution’s evidences and submissions as inadequate.

It will be recalled that Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy was arraigned by the Commissioner of Police under Charge No: TB/34A/2025 on a one-count charge of disorderly conduct, alleging that he presented himself as the Baba Adinni of Lagos Central Mosque and disrupted public lectures organized by the substantive Chief Imam.

However, Chief Adedamola having legally perused all the prosecution’s submissions, exhibits tendered and the witnesses evidence, discharged and acquitted Alhaji Sikiru in his ruling on June 4, 2026.

In discharging and acquitting the elder statesman, the court held that “the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case requiring Sikiru to enter a defence”.

The police alleged that the conduct constituted disorderly behaviour punishable under Section 168(1)(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

During the trial of the case, the prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered several documents, including petitions, witness statements, newspaper publications, and an undertaking allegedly signed by the defendant.

Upon the closing of the prosecution case, Alhaji Sikiru argued that none of the evidence presented, established the essential ingredients of the offence.

In a detailed ruling, Chief Magistrate Adedamola reviewed the testimonies of all seven prosecution witnesses and concluded that they largely focused on disputes surrounding the appointment and legitimacy of Alhaji Sikiru as Baba Adinni, rather than the specific allegation of disorderly conduct contained in the charge.

He noted that the key documentary exhibits, including a petition and statement made by the principal complainants, were not supported by oral testimony from their makers.

Consequently, the Chief Magistrate treated the documents as hearsay and accorded them little evidential value.

The court further held that the investigating police officer failed to establish that any Ramadan lecture was actually disrupted by the defendant. Adding that evidence before the court showed that a proposed lecture had been suspended following an undertaking by Sikiru aimed at maintaining peace.

The Chief Magistrate further stated that none of the prosecution witnesses provided credible evidence linking the defendant to conduct capable of causing a breach of the peace, which is a core element of the offence charged.

He also observed that issues relating to the legitimacy of Sikiru’s position as Baba Adinni were already the subject of separate proceedings before the Federal High Court and could not form the basis of the criminal charge before his court.

Having found the prosecution’s case “severely perforated, watery and porous,” Chief Magistrate Adedamola Paul  ruled that no reasonable tribunal could convict on the evidence presented.

“The no-case submission is accordingly upheld, this case is therefore dismissed and the defendant, Alhaji Sikiru is discharged and acquitted of the charge”, the court ruled.

Lagos Court Acquits Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, Upholds No Case Submission

The Presiding Magistrate of Tinubu Magistrate Court of Lagos State Chief Magistrate Adedamola Albert Paul,  has discharged and acquitted Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, the Baba Adinni of Lagos having upheld a “No Case Submission” filed by his defence team, describing the prosecution’s evidences and submissions as inadequate.

It will be recalled that Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy was arraigned by the Commissioner of Police under Charge No: TB/34A/2025 on a one-count charge of disorderly conduct, alleging that he presented himself as the Baba Adinni of Lagos Central Mosque and disrupted public lectures organized by the substantive Chief Imam.

However, Chief Adedamola having legally perused all the prosecution’s submissions, exhibits tendered and the witnesses evidence, discharged and acquitted Alhaji Sikiru in his ruling on June 4, 2026.

In discharging and acquitting the elder statesman, the court held that “the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case requiring Sikiru to enter a defence”.

The police alleged that the conduct constituted disorderly behaviour punishable under Section 168(1)(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

During the trial of the case, the prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered several documents, including petitions, witness statements, newspaper publications, and an undertaking allegedly signed by the defendant.

Upon the closing of the prosecution case, Alhaji Sikiru argued that none of the evidence presented, established the essential ingredients of the offence.

In a detailed ruling, Chief Magistrate Adedamola reviewed the testimonies of all seven prosecution witnesses and concluded that they largely focused on disputes surrounding the appointment and legitimacy of Alhaji Sikiru as Baba Adinni, rather than the specific allegation of disorderly conduct contained in the charge.

He noted that the key documentary exhibits, including a petition and statement made by the principal complainants, were not supported by oral testimony from their makers.

Consequently, the Chief Magistrate treated the documents as hearsay and accorded them little evidential value.

The court further held that the investigating police officer failed to establish that any Ramadan lecture was actually disrupted by the defendant. Adding that evidence before the court showed that a proposed lecture had been suspended following an undertaking by Sikiru aimed at maintaining peace.

The Chief Magistrate further stated that none of the prosecution witnesses provided credible evidence linking the defendant to conduct capable of causing a breach of the peace, which is a core element of the offence charged.

He also observed that issues relating to the legitimacy of Sikiru’s position as Baba Adinni were already the subject of separate proceedings before the Federal High Court and could not form the basis of the criminal charge before his court.

Having found the prosecution’s case “severely perforated, watery and porous,” Chief Magistrate Adedamola Paul  ruled that no reasonable tribunal could convict on the evidence presented.

“The no-case submission is accordingly upheld, this case is therefore dismissed and the defendant, Alhaji Sikiru is discharged and acquitted of the charge”, the court ruled.