Tout stabs friend to death over N800

A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lateef Jimoh, has been remanded in prison for allegedly stabbing to death his 33-year-old friend, Nurudeen Adio, over N800.

The incident was said to have occurred at the Amukoko area of Lagos State where Jimoh and Adio  allegedly extorted money from tricycle riders.  After the close of work, both men reportedly shared the proceeds for the day.

However, on March 9, 2014 when the incident happened, it was gathered that the duo had a disagreement over N800 and a fight ensued.

In fit of anger, 32-year-old Jimoh allegedly smashed a bottle on the floor, and stabbed the deceased in the chest with its fragment.

The police said the victim died before he could get any medical treatment.

Jimoh was arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court on Monday on one count of murder.

The charge reads, “That you, Lateef Jimoh, on March 9, 2014 at about 6.30pm at Amukoko area of Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District did unlawfully kill one Nurudeen Adio, aged 33 years, by stabbing him on the chest with a broken bottle, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”

The defendant’s plea was not taken for the offence.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Clement Okuomoise, applied for the remand of the defendant in prison custody pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.  However, the defence counsel, Spurgeon Ataene, opposed the remand application.

Ataene said, “The court has ample power under Section 264 (9) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2011, to make an enquiry and find out the circumstances under which the victim died, and if a prema facie case of murder can be established against my client. We will want the court to equally invoke subsection 5 of the same law, to admit the defendant to bail pending DPP’s advice.”

The magistrate, O.O. Olatunji, called the Investigating Police Officer, Sergeant John Babalola, to tell the court his findings in the course of investigation.

Babalola, who is attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, said, “On March 9, 2014, a case of murder was brought to the SCID, against the defendant.

“He had a misunderstanding with the deceased over N800, which led to a fight between them. The defendant in anger went and picked a bottle of Seven-Up, with which he stabbed the late Adio to death.

“He died before he could get to the hospital. The case was transferred to us from the Amukoko Police Division.”

Olatunji, after listening to the IPO, ruled that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi prison pending DPP’s legal advice.

The matter was adjourned till May 7, 2014 for legal advice.