National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
South West
Friday, September 28, 2012
9
Court sentences killer cop to death by hanging WALE IGBINTADE
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n Ikeja High Court presided over by Justice Olabisi Akinlade, yesterday sentenced 35-year-old former police corporal, Okechukwu Nwabueze, to death by hanging for killing a three-year-old girl, Kafusara Muritala. In pronouncing the death sentence, the court averred that the prosecution had established and proven a case of culpable homicide. Justice Akinlade held that the weight of evidence before the court showed that Nwabueze
had the intention to kill. “Nwabueze is guilty as charged and I so hold. “The sentence of the court upon you is that that you be hung on the neck until you are dead. And may God have mercy on your soul,” the court ordered. Nwabueze was alleged to have in April, 2009 shot at a car in which the parents, the three-year-old Kafusara and her siblings were commuting at Mr. Biggs Junction, Alapere, Ketu. Nwabueze and his colleagues were said to have taken to their heels when they discovered that there was a casualty. When arrested, the for-
mer police office was said to have confessed during investigation that he shot dead the deceased little girl which led to his dismissal from the Nigeria Police. But, during the trial, Nwabueze maintained that he was coerced to make that confessional statement by the police officer who investigated the case. He also claimed that he was not the only one that fired shots into the air and that other members of his team also did same. During the trial, three witnesses, including the deceased’s father, a police officer and a pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, testified
against the accused person. In his defence, the convict gave contradictory account of what happened on the fateful date, but admitted that he expended two rounds of ammunition that day. He again claimed that he shot into the air to scare the driver of the car who allegedly refused to stop to a halt as ordered. But, the deceased’s father, in his testimony, told the court that they were never stopped by the police, adding that he was shocked when Nwabueze (the convict) shot at them few metres away from the checkpoint.
NDLEA arrests grandmother with 1.740 kg of cocaine OLUSEGUN KOIKI
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he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) attached to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos yesterday announced the arrest of a 65 years old grandmother for attempting to smuggle 1.740 kg of cocaine into London, United Kindgom, in herbal syrup. The suspect, identified as Hassan Fatimat Abike, who is also known as Chika Okoye, was to board a British Airways flight when officers of the NDLEA arrested her at the MMIA, Lagos on Wednesday. A statement signed by the Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju and made available to journalists stated that the suspect packed the drugs in balloons and inserted them in 10 plastic containers of herbal syrup. Ofoyeju said the sus-
pect had two international passports that bear Hassan Fatimat Abike with passport numbers A03348648 and A3771781A. “She was caught during the screening of British Airways passengers to London. The cocaine found in her possession was packed in balloons and prepared into the shape of the plastic bottles. It was also wrapped in black polythene inside 10 plastic bottles of local herbal mixtures. Each bottle was neatly sealed to avoid suspicion,” he said. Preliminary investigation, Ofoyeju said, revealed that she is also known as Chika Okoye and that she speaks Ibo and Yoruba fluently. “Her father is a native of Abeokuta while her mother hails from Owerri, Imo State. She was said to have six children and many grandchildren. She currently lives alone in Owerri and sells clothes to earn a living.”
The drug found in her bag tested positive for cocaine and weighed 1.740kg. According to NDLEA, the suspect in her statement claimed ownership of the drug, stressing that it was given to her by a friend. “I live in Owerri alone because my children are grown up and now have their families. I sell clothes to take care of myself. I met an old friend two weeks ago and during our discussion, I told him I will soon be traveling to London. “He asked me to deliver some herbal medicine to his sick relative in London. I was only trying to assist an old friend. I blame myself for everything because I should have turned down his request. The drug was detected during a search at the airport,” she reportedly confessed. Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, while commenting on the arrest, said that the agency is investigating her claim. According to him, “The
Aregbesola appoints 29 permanent secretaries WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO
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sun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has appointed 29 new permanent secretaries in the state, even as he announced the names of three tutors-general. Director of the Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, made this disclosure in a statement issued yesterday. According to him, the new Head of Service (HOS) in the state will emerge via an electoral process that
will involve civil servants on grade level 14 and above. He said the affected civil servants will elect three of the newly approved permanent secretaries and forward their names to the governor, who will in turn select one of them as the HOS. The names of the permanent secretaries are, Owoeye Olayinka; Akinyemi Obafemi; Oluwadamilare Oyeleke; Adewunmi Adelowo; Adegoke Kayode; Aina Ayanleye; Olajide Festus; Adesina Olajide; Aduroja Richards; Adeagbo Nurudeen; Kola-
wole Adesina; Olorunsogo Olusegun; ; OJo Adewale and Fawole Olufemi. Others are, Ajayi O; Dr. Adeyinka Eso; Dr. Oladele Olalekan; Adewemimo Abiola; Oyeniran Bamidele; Odediran Soladoye; Olaluwoye Dayo; Olayode S; Oyeniran Oyelade; Olayinka M. O; Bello Olajumoke (Mrs.) and Kolawole Olufunke. Okanlawon also gave the names of the new permanent secretaries from the Local Government Service as; Agbedaunsi Abimbola; Afolabi Aliu and Dr. Oyebade Festus.
case is under investigation to ascertain her role. This is very worrisome considering the fact that she is a grandmother.” He urged members of the public to be vigilant because drug barons are desperate to smuggle drugs and are prepared to use anybody, adding that the suspect will soon be charged to court.
Nwabueze was also charged with the attempted murder of Kafusara’s father, Mr. Saliu Muritala. The accused committed the offence at a checkpoint on Alapere Road, Ketu, Lagos, on April 5, 2009. But, Justice Akinlade, agreed with the evidence given by the prosecution witnesses; the father of the deceased, Sergeant Adeboye James, of the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Panti, Yaba, the pathologist, Prof. John Oladapo, who performed the autopsy on the deceased and Atunbi Jeremiah, a police ballistician. Justice Akinlade, who noted some inconsistencies in the testimony of Nwabueze, also held that a recanted confessional statement does not necessarily cancel its relevance. “It is trite law that the confessional statement of a defendant is relevant regardless of the fact that it is recanted. It is also trite that a person can be convicted on the basis of the confessional statement. It is my opinion that the
evidence of PW1 is consistent with the testimonies of PW 2 and PW 3.” The judge said the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were not discredited during cross-examination unlike that of the defence. She said that; “By his training as a police officer, he, (Nwabueze) cannot claim ignorance of the probable consequences of shooting at the vehicle. I therefore hold that the defendant had intention to kill or cause bodily harm to the occupants of the car. I find the defendant guilty as charged.” At this time, counsel to the defendant, A. O. Omodele, made an allocutus for the judge to temper justice with mercy on the grounds that he was at his duty post when the offence was committed and that he was a first offender. He also said that he was a young man who was yet to be married and had a lot to contribute to the nation. The judge while passing out her sentence said she was not convinced of any reason why she should show leniency.