A 30-year-old man, Folarin Adetokunbo, has been remanded in
prison by an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly
killing one John Ansah, 45, with fist blows.
The police said the incident occurred at Itamaga Plank Market,
Imota Ikorodu area of Lagos on November 4, 2013.
The prosecutor, Inspector George Nwosu, said the one count
murder charge contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of
Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
He later filed application for the remand of the defendant
pursuant to Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal
Justice, Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
The defence counsel, Spurgeon Ataene, said the defendant did
not commit the crime.
According to him, it was important that the magistrate, Mr.
Tunbosun Abolarinwa, conducted a preliminary investigation
into the incident so that the innocent does not suffer unjustly.
He said, “The police have not shown any probable evidence.
They did not show if it was my client who indeed committed
the act or somebody else. Can they show how his fist blow
killed the deceased? I urge your honour to ask the
investigating police officer to tell the court what actually
happened.”
But Abolarinwa said the police had shown enough evidence
that Ansah died from fist blows.
He observed that since Adetokunbo did not deny pummeling
the deceased, he was culpable.
He said, “He punched him, boxed him and he has not denied
that. I believe that is enough.”
Abolarinwa remanded the defendant in prison pending legal
advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.
The matter was adjourned till December 23, for DPP’s advice.