From Omale Adama Lokoja
An 18 year-old sales boy, Chukwuma Matthew and his businessman friend, Mohammed Ibiyomi, 22, have been remanded in prison custody on the orders of a Lokoja Chief Magistrate Court. over alleged culpable homicide.
They were alleged to have stabbed one Isah Musa to death with a knife at a nite club.
Chief Magistrate Alhassan Hussein gave the order yesterday, upon arraignment of the accused, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of Criminal Conspiracy and Culpable Homicide contrary to section 97(1) and 221 of the Penal Code Law.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) read by the Prosecuting Police Officer, C.S. Ayabatu (Insp.), Mathew of Sarkin-Noma area and Ibiyomi of Angwar Kura street, all in Lokoja, allegedly committed the offence on May 24.
Ayabatu told the court that one Fatai Jubril, of Felele area in Lokoja, reported the matter at ‘B’ Division Police station and later, at Department of Criminal Investigation, Lokoja.
He said that, on the same date, while the accused and others were clubbing at Olympic Hotel, Lokoja, one OJo (aka) 2face, surname unknown, conspired with a group of boys and stabbed the deceased (Musa) with a knife on his neck.
Isah, he said, was rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja where he later gave up the ghost as a result of the injuries he sustained adding that investigation led to the arrest of the accused while others remained at large.
Ayabatu told the court that investigation into the matter was on-going and objected to admitting the accused to bail, more so as other accused persons were still at large.
He urged the court to remand them in prison custody, saying they would jeopardize police investigation if granted bail.
Chief Magistrate Hussein, in his ruling said the punishment for the offence of Culpable Homicide, which is contrary to section 221 of the Penal Code law slammed against the accused persons, was capital and the highest known to law.
Hussein said, “There is every likelihood that they may not spring up for their trial” and therefore, upheld the submission of the prosecution and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Prisons, Koton-Karfe.
He adjourned the case to July 27, for further mention.
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