Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of a Lagos Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court has sentenced a man, Odunayo Idowu to three years imprisonment over alleged assault.
The judge sentenced Idowu to three years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to one count charge bordering on assault occasioning bodily harm filed against him by the Lagos State government.
His offence is said to be contrary to Section 173(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The state has alleged that Idowu stabbed his neighbour with a knife during an argument which later resulted in the death of his neighbour.
The prosecution counsel, Ms Tolulope Esan, told the court that on 17 April 2020 at Ayede Street by Custom Bus Stop, Ikotun, the defendant (Idowu) assaulted one Godwin, and stabbed him with a knife in the stomach.
But Godwin later died from the pain of the injury he sustained from the stab wound after he was discharged from the hospital.
However, the case was reported at Ikotun Police Station and the case file was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department
(SCID).
The defendant was remanded but was later released on bail.
At the resumed hearing, Esan informed the court of two filed processes, including state plea bargain agreement, and the amended one-count charge both dated 11 October 2022 against the defendant. She urged the court to accept them.
Idowu was re-arraigned and pleaded guilty to the charge, even as the prosecution reviewed the facts of the case.
Counsel to the defendant, Mr O. Sule confirmed the position of the prosecution, noting that the defendant has made efforts to settle with the deceased family.
However, Justice Abike-Fadipe admitted the defendant’s statement made at Ikotun Police Station, the statement of Esther Godwin and Adeboye Olabisi, the report by the State CID and the statement made by Dr Ayantola Oladipo as exhibits.
The court, therefore, admitted the plea bargain agreement and found him guilty as charged. While sentencing the defendant, the court held that the defendant had made peace with the deceased and appeased the family before the demise of the victim.
The court held that “Exhibit E1 and E2 show that the defendant has made peace with the deceased before his demise. He appeased the family and effort has been made for the welfare of the deceased family.
“The defendant engaged in a fight with the deceased; it does not appear that he (defendant) premeditated the provocative action. The defendant and deceased family have resolved their differences.”
The judge, therefore, sentenced Idowu to three years imprisonment, noting that the prison term begins on 24 March 2020 when he was remanded in prison custody.