A Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, Southwest Nigeria, on Tuesday sentenced a 42-year-old tricycle operator, Godswill Akpan, to 10 years in prison for the killing of his colleague, 30-year-old Baba Ali Bukar.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya convicted Akpan of involuntary manslaughter, ruling that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt that his actions led to Bukar’s death.
Akpan was first arraigned on October 18, 2021, on a one-count charge of involuntary manslaughter by provocation, following an information filed on December 17, 2019.
Prosecutors told the court that Akpan caused the fatal injury by striking Bukar in the chest with a stone.
The incident occurred on June 1, 2019, at about 12:45 p.m. near the Eko Hotel Roundabout in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The offence contravenes Section 225 and carries a penalty under Section 299 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
Akpan pleaded not guilty, setting the stage for a full trial.
The prosecution presented a single witness and one exhibit, while the defendant testified on his own behalf but called no additional witnesses or evidence.
During the trial, the Investigative Police Officer told the court that no autopsy was conducted because the deceased’s family objected on religious grounds.
“No autopsy was carried out as the deceased’s brother said their faith does not permit it,” the IPO said.
Akpan, in his testimony, said the confrontation began when Bukar accused him of breaching the tricycle queue system after he picked up a lone passenger who paid N700 to Obalende.
The argument escalated into a physical fight, with both men allegedly exchanging slaps.
Akpan claimed Bukar attempted to hit him with a stone, prompting him to strike back, hitting the deceased in the chest.
Bukar collapsed and later died in hospital. His family informed Akpan of the death around 4 p.m. that same day.
The judge, however, noted inconsistencies in Akpan’s accounts, stating that he had altered parts of his initial statement during trial.
Justice Adesanya held that the circumstantial evidence was compelling and left no doubt as to Akpan’s responsibility for the killing.
“The prosecution has proved its case. The defendant, Godswill Akpan, is hereby found guilty of involuntary manslaughter,” she ruled.
During allocutus, defence counsel appealed for a reduced sentence, describing Akpan as remorseful, a first offender, and the primary provider for his family. He urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
Justice Adesanya thereafter imposed a 10-year custodial sentence.
Source: Daily Post.
