The Lagos State High Court on Tuesday sentenced a Togolese
cook, Sunday Adefonou Anani, to life imprisonment for the murder of his boss
and Chief Executive Officer of Credit Switch Ltd, Ope Bademosi.
READ ALSO:
FACT-CHECK: Did a U.S. Court Acquit Air Peace's Onyema, as Some Reports Claim?
Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile convicted and jailed the
foreigner after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of voluntary
manslaughter brought against him by the Lagos State Government.
READ ALSO:
EKEOHA MADMAN SAGA, ANOTHER TWIST, TRADERS ACCUSE MARKET CHAIRMAN OF MANIPULATION
Anani had confessed to the court that he stabbed Bademosi to
death in his Ikoyi, Lagos home, on 31 October, 2018 while trying to rob him.
READ ALSO:
INEC Sued Over 'Missing' 55.9bn 2019 Election Funds
The convict also admitted that he was the person caught on
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) fleeing the scene of the crime, after the
murder.
READ ALSO:
Three Judges That Dismissed Nnamdi Kanu's Case Transferred | READ FULL
He was was originally arraigned on a two-count charge of
murder and armed robbery which could have fetched him a sentence of death by
hanging on conviction, but he struck a plea bargain deal with the Lagos State
Government soon after the trial commenced.
READ ALSO:
Popular Islamic Cleric Found Dead In Zamfara
The agreement, which followed consultation with his counsel,
the Director of the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), Mrs Aderenra Adeyemi,
allowed him to admit the lesser charge of manslaughter.
READ ALSO:
How NDLEA Finally Captured Drug Kingpin Who Killed Three Officers After 12 Years on the Run
Before sentencing Anani, Justice Okikiolu-Ighile asked Mrs
Adeyemi if the cook, who spoke only French, had an allocutus.
READ ALSO:
How Suspects Used Fake Alert to Acquire 75m Mercedes Benz GLE In Kano
Allocutus is a plea made in criminal trials in order to
mitigate the sentence or punishment on a convicted person.
READ ALSO:
COVID-19: NAFDAC Lists 14 Herbal Medicines For Use | SEE DETAILS
"The defendant is a young man and he is remorseful about
what he has done. He is a first time offender, there is no evidence that he
committed any crime before this. Our humble application is to urge your
lordship to grant a sentence of years certain. However, if my lordship is
mindful of upholding what we have agreed in the plea bargain, we will accept
the sentence therein,ÔÇØ Adeyemi said.
READ ALSO:
How NDLEA Uncovered a Massive Lekki Drug Lab and Arrested Its Saudi-Bound Owner | SEE PHOTOS
But Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)
Titilayo Shitta-Bey opposed the prayer.
READ ALSO:
SEE PHOTOS: Nigerian couple holds their wedding reception with 7 guests
Shitta-Bey said: "We urge this court to grant the maximum
sentence for the offence of voluntary manslaughter act as charged.ÔÇØ
READ ALSO:
2 Billion Scandal: Inside Gavice Logistics, EFCC's Probe, and the Future of Its CEO
She noted that there were some "special,ÔÇØ "aggravating
circumstancesÔÇØ surrounding the case, such as breach of trust
READ ALSO:
JUST IN: See the contribution of House of Reps members towards the fight of COVID- 19
Shitta-Bey said: "The defendant was employed into the home
of his boss, entrusted with a high level of responsibilities as a cook. Barely
three days after resumption of duty, the defendant cut short the life of a man
that gave him a new lease of life, depriving him the privilege of enjoying life
with his wife and children, which the deceased was entitled to.
READ ALSO:
FACT-CHECK: Did a U.S. Court Acquit Air Peace's Onyema, as Some Reports Claim?
"Judicial notice must be taken of the fact that this act of
violence by domestic employees against their employers is becoming rampant. The
sentence must reflect that this conduct is unacceptable to our society we must
send the message to others of like minds like the defendant.ÔÇØ
READ ALSO:
EKEOHA MADMAN SAGA, ANOTHER TWIST, TRADERS ACCUSE MARKET CHAIRMAN OF MANIPULATION
Following their submissions, Justice Okikiolu-Ighile passed
judgement on Anani.
READ ALSO:
INEC Sued Over 'Missing' 55.9bn 2019 Election Funds
The judge said: "It is annoying that a young man like this
would involve himself in this kind of crime. What did he hope to achieve in
life involving himself in this kind of crime, I ask? It is very painful that a
young boy whom the family of Bademosi welcomed in their home as a cook ended up
causing so much havoc and endless pain.
READ ALSO:
Three Judges That Dismissed Nnamdi Kanu's Case Transferred | READ FULL
"It is even more painful that the defendant had no motive of
working but came into the house with a criminal intention to steal to kill and
to destroy. The defendant admitted 'I killed him.' This was an innocent and
unsuspecting family.ÔÇØ (PMNEWS)
