Lagos tries security guard over murder

THE Lagos State government yesterday arraigned a 32-year-old security guard, Lawali Adamu, before the state High Court, Ikeja, for allegedly murdering one Gbolahan Odutola in Agege area of the state.

Adamu was arraigned before Judge Olabisi Akinlade on a one-count charge of murder. The alleged crime, according to the prosecutor, Mrs. Mariam Olaniyi, contravened Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Law Cap C. Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State 2003.

The state alleged that the accused person murdered Odutola on July 15, 2009, at about 4.30 p.m. near Railway Line in Agege by stabbing him with a pair of scissors.

Adamu pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read to him in Pidgin English and was remanded in prison custody.

However, in his statement dated July 15, 2009, to the police, the accused had claimed that Odutola, a shoemaker, prevented him from collecting planks near the railway line in one of the demolished structures.

He said this led to an argument between both of them and that he was slapped by the deceased and he fell on the ground.

Adamu claimed that this provoked him to pick up a pair of scissors with which he used to stab Odutola, not knowing that it would cause the victim’s death.

Judge Akinlade adjourned the matter to June 13 for trial.