Police arrest landlord over murder of co-landlord

A 54-year-old man and landlord of a property in Lagos, Michael Igbonoba, has been taken before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for the alleged murder of a co-landlord, Mr. Femi Fajuhami, after a fight over payment of PHCN bills.

Igbonoba and Fajuhami were said to be members of the Progressive Development Association, a landlord’s association in Morogbo area of Lagos State.

While the defendant was said to be in charge of collection of PHCN bills for the association, the deceased was its chairman.

The duo were, however, said to have had a disagreement over payment of the electricity bill for the community.

Fajuhami, in his position as the chairman, had allegedly challenged Igbonoba for collecting money from residents without remitting same as of when due.

 The disagreement was said to have degenerated into fisticuffs between the two men with the deceased sustaining injuries and cuts.

 He was said to have died shortly after the incident, leading to the arrest of the defendant.

Igbonoba was subsequently charged with the murder of the 60-year-old man.

 The police told the court that the defendant killed the deceased by giving him fist blows on his face which made him develop swollen face and nose.

The incident occurred in August, 2013.

The one count murder charge read, “That you, Michael Ozo Igbonoba, on the 11th day of August, 2013 at about 1100hours, at Ipara Village, Oko Afor, Morogbo, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Femi Fajuhami, aged 60 years, by giving him fist blows on his face.”

The prosecutor, Woman Corporal Onaiwu Iyobosa, said the offence was punishable under Section 216 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant’s plea was not taken

Iyobosa applied that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

However, counsel to the defendant, Mr. Spurgeon Ataene opposed the applicatio, saying the deceased did not die as a result of the tussle with his client.

He said, “My Lord, from the information available to us, the defendant is not involved in the commission of the crime. The autopsy showed the man died of hypertension.”

Ataene asked that the charge be amended to manslaughter.

The magistrate, Mr. O.A. Komolafe, however,  ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the release of the DPP’s advice.

The matter was adjourned till September 25 for Directorate of Public Prosecution’s advice.

Punch