An Investigative Police Officer, IPO, Insp Israel Ojo, explained to Ikeja Special OffencesCourt about how a 30-year-old actor, Temitayo Ogunbusola, allegedly stabbed his neighbour, Oladotun Osho, to death over a N1,000 electricity bill.
Ogunbusola is being tried for murder which he had pleaded not guilty to.
Ojo told the court he was an officer in charge of surveillance in Ikotun Division when the case was reported about 7.00 p.m. in May 15, 2020.
He was led in evidence by the state counsel, Mrs Adebanke Ogunnde.
The police officer told the court that the brother of the deceased, Joshua Osho reported the case at the station.
He recounted:
”When I got to the hospital the deceased was rushed to, I met him on a stretcher with a deep cut on his left chest, lying lifeless. I also met the defendant who had also sustained minor injuries, sitting down in front of the hospital with a knife in his hands.
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“He said he wanted to stab more people but my team and I stylishly collected the knife from him and took him to the station. which I stylishly collected from him and took to him to the station.
“There were many people, mostly Hausa boys in front of the hospital and I asked what happened and they told me the defendant was apprehended when he wanted to escape.
“I took the defendant to a hospital beside the station to treat the injuries he sustained. His statement was taken voluntarily while the statement of the brother of the deceased was also taken.
“Investigation revealed that the deceased, with some other tenants and the defendant, had issues on NEPA bill in which the defendant refused to pay N1,000.
“The defendant angrily went inside the house, brought out a table knife and stabbed the deceased on his life chest, following the disagreement.”
During cross-examined by the defence counsel, Wale Ademoyejo, the witness said he had been in service for 20 years and that he wrote a statement for the defendant because he was not in good mood.
Another IPO, ASP Kazeem Oladimemji, attached to State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, testified that the case was transferred to him on May 18, 2022 and his team visited the crime scene at No. 4 Sebil Kazeem St., in Ikotun-Egbe.
Oladimeji said his team filed a form for corona bu the family of the deceased declined a post-mortem examination because they were Muslims and the body was released to them for burial.
It was gathered that the statement of the defendant, the deceased photograph, copy of corona inquest form and out-patient index card form of the deceased were admitted in evidence after no objection from defence.
The witness further said the investigation on May 25, 2022 revealed that the defendant was a tenant and had not been cooperating with the co-tenants.
He, however, confirmed to the court that his team could not retrieve used in the alleged murder as they could not find it.
“We tried to retrieve the knife but it is not in our possession because the defendant threw it away after he used it,” he said.
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe adjourned the case till January 17 for cross-examination and continuation of trial.
