An Ilorin Magistrate’s Court last week remanded one Adewale Okanlawon, 20. of Olaifa Compound. Shao in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State in prison for culpable homicide.
According to the police First Information Report (FIR), one Ayuba Oyeduntan of Elemosho Compound, Shao, reported at the Shao Police Station that on January 11, 2011, information reached him that his daughter, Ajarat Ayuba, had, a fracas with Okanlawon.
The FIR stated that Okanlanwo stabbed Ayuba with a knife and she eventually died.
The report said that police Investigation had revealed that Okanlawo engaged in a fight with the deceased, a 19-year old girl who was the accused person’s lover over transport fare.
It added that during the struggle to retrieve the knife from the deceased, “which she had used to inflict injury on the accused, the accused person stabbed her on the chest and she later gave up the ghost.”
It noted that the accused committed the offence which is contrary to section 224 of the Penal Code Law
However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge against him.
In his argument, Omotola Ishola, counsel to the accused person, urged the court to grant bail to the accused.
He said: “The bail is within the jurisdiction of the court,” and urged it to use the discretional power in favour of the accused by granting him bail.
However, Sergeant Samuel Mayowa, the Investigation Police Officer objected to the issue of bail for the accused, saying that police investigation was yet to be completed.
According to him, granting the accused person bail will jeopardise police investigations.
He added that the charge against the accused person as contained in section 224 of the Penal Code Law is not bailable.
“Having known the gravity of the offence and the penalty attached, the accused might jump bail,” he stressed.
He urged the court to remand the accused in the Medium Security Prison, madela, and sought for another day for further hearing,
In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Mr. Ibrahim Dasuki, said the offence against the accused was serious “and if granted bail, the society which the court represents would not be happy.”
He said members of society might even take the laws into their hands against the accused.
He said in the interest of security and safety of the accused, he should be remanded in prison and adjourned the case to February 1, 2011 for further hearing.
The Nation Friday, 28th January
Page 28
