Bus Conductor arrested for killing his friend

The Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court has remanded a 24-year-old bus conductor, Ukpai Ama-Ukpai, in prison for the alleged murder of his friend, one Sunday.

The deceased, the defendant and two others were said to have gone to drink at a local pub at the Pako Ijeshatedo, Surulere area of Lagos where the incident happened.

After the drinking, they were said to have had a discussion which led to an argument.

The police said Ama-Ukpai, in the ensuing scuffle, “hit the head of the deceased with an object.” He died while they were making efforts to take him to the hospital.

The men allegedly fled the scene and left the deceased in a pool of blood.

A naval officer, Dabup Kenneth, however, saw what happened and was said to have alerted the police.

The police said the relations of the deceased had yet to show up for his corpse.

Ama-Ukpai was subsequently arrested and arraigned on two counts of murder.

The charge read in part, “That you, Ukpai Ama-Ukpai, and others now at large, on 19th July, 2013 at 9.30pm, at Pako Ijeshatedo, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Sunday, surname unknown, ‘Adult’, by hitting him with an object on the head.”

The prosecutor, Silas Cyriakus, said the offences were punishable under Sections 231 and 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria.

The defendant’s plea was not taken.

Cyriakus later filed application for the remand of the defendant pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

The magistrate, Mrs M.O Tanimola ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi Prison for a minimum of 30 days pending the DPP’s advice.

The matter was adjourned till November 6.