THREE TRUCK CONDUCTORS ARRAIGN FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING MAN OVER MISSING PHONE

The accused persons were facing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder, preferred against them by the Lagos State Government, and at the resumed hearing, the prosecuting witness who was led in evidence by the Lagos State Counsel, Babatunde Sunmonu, said that the case was transferred to him at the Port Criminal Investigation Department, Apapa from the Apapa Police Division.

Penpushing further reports that, the Prosecuting Witness told the court that the incident happened on June 7, 2016 at about 2.00 a.m. at Sand Field in Tin Can Island, Apapa, adding that when he visited the scene on June 8, 2016 with his team, the Divisional Police Officer had already deposited the corpse of the deceased at Mainland Hospital in Apapa.

The witness also told the court that there were blood stains at the scene, adding that during investigation, the police discovered that the deceased was tied up with a rope and beaten to death, and further explained a principal witness, Garuba Ejo, who witnessed how the defendants tied and beat the deceased to death, was the one who informed the police about the incident.

Penpushing reports that, the prosecuting witness said the principal witness informed the police that while he was taking his trailer to Mile 2, he saw how the second defendant (Abdulatif) raised alarm that his Techno second hand phone was stolen by the deceased.

The Prosecuting Witness further informed the court that, the first and third defendants rushed out, dragged the deceased to the other side of the road and beat him to death, adding that the principal witness also narrated to the police how an elderly man tried to stop the defendants from beating the deceased but they chased him away with clubs and axes.

Penpushing further reports the Prosecuting Witness  explained that the principal witness  said he could not go there because it was dark, adding that he was afraid of confronting the defendants, and therefore argued that the defendants were culpable of the offence of murder because they took laws into their hands by torturing the deceased to death.

The witness was cross- examined by the defendants’ lawyers, Damilola Olaofe, Pamela Okoro-Igwe and Olarenwaju Mabawonku, adding that s the second defendant actually alleged that his Techno phone was stolen.

Penpushing also reports that, the first defendant denied participating in the action that led to the death of the deceased and when asked if the first defendant was arrested while he was sleeping, the witness said the first defendant was not asleep when he was arrested.

 The judge, Adedayo Akintoye, after listening to the evidence adjourned the case until November 11 for continuation of trial, whiles the defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.