Joy Anyim
The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), has exonerated a 28-year-old man, Babatunde Tejuosho, who was arrested and arraigned for allegedly killing one Justice Ehieze at Oke-Odo area of Lagos.
The Nigerian Xpress reports that Ehieze was allegedly recruited by residents of Oremeji Street to collect tolls from commercial motorcycles plying the street.
The tolls were said to be used in buying sand to fill potholes in the street to make for easy access.
However, tragedy struck when on September 13, 2020, a commercial motorcyclist, carrying Tejuosho was stopped to pay the required N100 toll, but he refused.
The deceased was alleged to have pushed the motorcyclist while still on his bike, which resulted in both the motorcyclist and Tejuosho falling to the ground.
Ehieze reportedly picked a fight with the duo and allegedly struck the suspect with a stone on the head. Tejuosho reciprocated the gesture and struck the deceased on the chest with his fist.
Operatives at the Oke-Odo Police Division were alerted to the fight, and the two suspects were arrested.
While Tejuosho, who had physical injuries was treated and detained, Ehieze reportedly slumped in detention and died after having a meal prepared by his wife.
Speaking on the incident, the suspect said: “While we were in the cell, Ehieze’s wife brought him food, which he ate and immediately went to take his bath. He collapsed in the bathroom. I found him there and called out to the police for help. He was taken to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.”
The suspect was, however, transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for investigation and subsequently charged to the Yaba Magistrate Court.
A community leader at Oremeji, Alhaji Oladipupo Taiwo, who spoke on the incident, denied that the community sent Ehieze to collect toll at the location.
Although he claimed to know the deceased very well, he maintained that the community had no such agreement with him, hence he was constituting a nuisance at the said location.
According to the DPP advice, signed by AO Adeyemi for the Hon. Attorney General, there is no sufficient evidence indicting the suspect.
Part of the advice read: “It is the opinion of this office that there are insufficient facts to establish the alleged offence of murder contrary to the provision of section 223 of Criminal Law CH, C17, Vol 3, Law of Lagos State 2015 or any other offence whatsoever against the suspect, Babatunde Tehljuosho.”
A police source privy to investigations into the matter said the suspect, who had since been detained at the Correctional facility, was fortunate to have been let off the hook by DPP, adding that the court and the police would have no option but to yield to DPP advice.
“The DPP has spoken; we have no option but to do as they have said. The suspect will most likely be released at the next hearing of the court. He has just been given another opportunity to freedom and we do hope he also avoids trouble,” the source said.
