22nd July, 2015
Henry Ojelu
A Lagos High court sitting in Ikeja today sentenced a Police Corporal, Abang Okon to six years imprisonment for the unlawful killing of one Olalekan Ajayi.
The convict who was arraigned on a one count charge was sentenced to six years imprisonment by Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya after he pleaded guilty to the offence.
Okon was arrainged before Justice Ogunsanya on 1 April, for firing a gun shot that killed Olalekan. The incident took place at the Ladeja area of Ikorodu in Lagos State.
The defendant who had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge, later agreed to a plea bargain with the prosecution.
At the proceedings, State Prosecutor Adebayo Haroun informed the court that a plea bargain had been reached between the defendant and the state.
He urged the court to approve the guilt plea as involuntary manslaughter.
Adopting the part of the bargain, Justice said: “The defendant having shown remorse for his actions on the 28 August, 2013 along Ladega Junction, Ikorodu, Lagos by negligently firing a bullet at one Olalekan Ajayi which resulted in his death hereby pleads guilty to the offence of involuntary manslaughter contrary to section 222 of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2011.
“The defendant is hereby sentenced to six years imprisonment to take effect from the date of his remand in prison custody.”
The judge however turned down a part of the plea bargain which had recommended that the defendant should serve a six hours community service in the nature of environmental sanitation as part of punishment for his crime.
Justice Ogunsanya also turned down the part of the bargain which recommended that the defendant should be responsible for paying the school fees of one of the deceased children from primary to secondary school.