A 24-YEAR-OLD man, Olalekan Olagunju. who allegedly killed somebody in self defence, is currently battling to convince investigators on why he should not be prosecuted for the crime.
According to an eyewitness. Olagunju was inside his one room apartment at 81, Alhaji Abass Street, Ogudu on December 25, 2010 when some suspected cultists allegedly attacked him.
Olagunju said he never intended to kill the deceased but only acted in self defence. He explained that the deceased tried to force him to join his cult group but that he resisted him.
Olagunju said: “I am not a killer. This man Badejo who is popularly known as Agate, was the leader of a dreaded cult in Ogudu and people in this environment feared him a lot. I used to be a furniture maker and after I had an accident in 2007. My right leg was amputated and 1 have been using artificial legs.”
Olagunju noted that the thugs were allegedly led by one Badejo Oladipupo.
The cultists allegedly attacked Olagunju with broken bottles, cutlass, axe, knives and charms.
It was during the free for all fight that ensued inside the suspect’s room that the deceased identified as Mr. Badejo Oladipupo was killed.
Newsextra learnt that residents in the neighbourhood reported the matter to the police. Police detectives from Area II police command. Ogudu moved to the scene but before they could get there, the suspect had fled.
He was arrested last week in Ondo State where he has been hiding since the incident occurred.
The suspect, a physically challenged person was said to be notorious in the neighbourhood where he allegedly sold Indian hemp and other hard drugs.
He said: “My mother was taking care of my younger brother and I until late last year when she died. In order to survive, I started dealing on hard drugs. One day, Badejo came to me with his gang of cultists and said I must join them. For more than six months, they were disturbing me, but I told him that I will not become a cultist.
“He and his gang kept on disturbing. On that day, they invaded my house wearing black and black with weapons and said today. I must join their cult or I will die. They threatened to kill my younger brother.”
Throwing more light on how he tried to avoid a fight to no avail. Olagunju said:” I just started telling them that they should leave my house or I will call the police. But they brought out a knife and it was Agaba that stabbed me on the neck and on my hand and body. His gang members were holding me down when he was inflicting pains on me. He insisted that unless I join them. I will die. My younger brother ran out of the room and called on neighbours to assist me and that was how the people in my area came and started fighting them. Agaba and his gang were badly injured. I ran away and later I heard that Agaba (Mr. Oladipopu) died as a result of the injuries he sustained during the fight and that was how the police came and arrested me.”
One of the investigators told Newsextra that Olagunju knew that he had killed somebody and that was why he fled out of the state after the incident.
The case, it was learnt, has already been transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.
The Nation Friday, 28th January
Page 28
Stories by Jude Isiguzo
