Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, on Wednesday, sentenced a dismissed policeman, Ologunowa Ojo, to seven years’ imprisonment for killing one Taiye Akande.
We had reported that Ojo, who was guarding Frajend Investments Nigeria Limited, had on February 3, 2016, around 7 pm, shot Akande around Shapati, in the Ajah area of the state.
Ojo, who was attached to the Special Protection Unit, Oduduwa, Ikeja, was said to be guarding the firm dealing in motorcycles.
Akande was said to have argued with the police sergeant for allegedly sitting on the company’s fence.
The policeman was said to have shot him in the buttocks and he was rushed to the Akodo General Hospital, where he died.
The police authorities immediately subjected the cop to orderly room trial, leading to his dismissal from the force.
Ojo, however, said he did not have any intention to kill the victim, adding that he only wanted to scare him.
He said, “I was on duty that day and the owner of the building had instructed that he did not want anybody to sit on his fence.
“I got into an argument with some residents, and as a security man, I brought out my gun to scare them off. But one of them (Akande), engaged me in a fight and started dragging the gun with me. Suddenly, the gun discharged and hit him in the buttocks.”
Delivering her judgment on Wednesday, Justice Taiwo held that there had been many incidents of extrajudicial killing by the police under the pretext of accidental discharge, adding that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to errant officers of the law.
She found Ojo guilty of manslaughter and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment.
Justice Taiwo said, “The defendant acted with gross negligence and recklessness without regard for human life. The defendant, Ologunowa Ojo, is hereby sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment in accordance with Section 315 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2015.
“I will take into consideration the time he has spent in prison custody, which is a year and three months; the time spent in custody will be deducted from the sentence. This is the judgment of the court.”
