NAN-H-26
Trader
By Moji Eniola
Ikeja, March 20, 2017 (NAN) A trader, Lawrence Ikonni, 29, was on Monday remanded at Ikoyi Prisons by an Ikeja High Court for allegedly murdering a 22-year-old scavenger, Isa Yaya.
Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye’s court heard that Yaya was murdered during a fight with the accused over a disused air conditioning unit.
According to Mr Tobi Ashafa, the State Prosecutor, Ikonni committed the offence at 10.20 a.m. on Oct. 10, 2014 at his home located at No. 16, Afro Close, Afromedia Estate, Okokomaiko near Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ikonni, who sells electronics at the Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter brought against him by the state.
Ashafa told court that the defendant had invited the deceased, a scavenger who frequented the neighbourhood into his apartment offering to sell a disused air conditioning unit to him.
Ashafa said: “They negotiated a N5,000 price for the sale and Ikonni asked Yaya to help him carry the air conditioner out of his apartment.
“After it was brought out of Ikonni’s home, Yaya had a change of mind and told the defendant that he was no longer interested in buying the air conditioner.
“He rather demanded payment for helping the defendant to carry it out of the apartment.
“This angered Ikonni and a fight ensued between the duo with Ikonni hitting Yaya with a plank on his neck leading to his death.
“After he killed the scavenger, he hid the body in his apartment.
“The body was discovered later in the day by Ikonni’s younger brother Clement who raised an alarm.”
According to the prosecution, the offence was in contravention of Section 227 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye adjourned the case till May 16 and 17 for trial. (NAN)
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Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Silas Nwoha