Operatives
attached to the Ilasan division of the Lagos Police Command have arrested one
Samson Onome for allegedly chopping off his neighbour’s left hand and
inflicting injuries on his head.
Onome and the
victim, Wale Badejo, lived on Ilasan Housing Estate, Ajah area of the state.
It was learnt
that Badejo was at a lotto centre on the estate last Wednesday when an argument
ensued between him and some gamblers. The argument degenerated and Badejo
reportedly destroyed some items in the lotto shop.
After failed
attempts to prevail on him to stop the trouble, a resident was said to have
invited Onome, a tailor, to confront Badejo...
On getting to
the shop, Onome reportedly confronted Badejo, resulting in a fight during which
both men exchanged blows.
A resident,
who identified himself as Emmanuel, said Onome later fled from the scene, but
Badejo gave him a chase.
He said, “The
whole thing started as a minor argument between Wale (Badejo) and some people
at the lotto shop. Samson (Onome) was called to prevail on him, but the
situation became worse. They fought each other. At a point, Samson ran into his
room and Wale followed him.
“Wale barged
into Samson’s room with a bottle. Samson also brought out a cutlass, hacked him
on the head and chopped off his left hand. There was blood everywhere.”
Another
eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Punch that Badejo was
rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital, Marina, for treatment, while the
incident was reported to the police at the Ilasan division.
“I was
shocked, seeing the severed hand. He is still on admission at the hospital. The
family was told that the possibility of fixing the hand was slim. The suspect
is with the police,” he added.
A police
prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Mameh, brought 34yrs old Onome before Igbosere
Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on two counts of assault and attempted murder.
The defendant,
however, pleaded not guilty and elected to stand trial. His counsel prayed that
he should be granted bail in liberal terms.
Mameh objected
to the application and prayed the court to remand Onome in custody on the
grounds that he had committed a grievous offence.
He said, “The
charge against the defendant is attempted murder, where he completely cut off
the complainant’s hand with intent to kill him.
“The victim is
in a critical condition in the hospital. The punishment on conviction is life
imprisonment.”
The presiding
magistrate, Mr. B.A. Shonuga upheld the prosecutor’s argument.
“In view of
the degree of injury inflicted on the victim, the defendant is hereby remanded
in custody and the prosecution should forward the duplicate case file to the
Directorate of Public Prosecutions for advice,” Shonuga ruled.
The case was
adjourned till February 6, 2016, for trial.
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