Crime

Court Frees Man Accused of Killing LASTMA Officer; See Reasons

Published by Tope Fakinlede on October 2nd, 2024.

Court Frees Man Accused of Killing LASTMA Officer; See Reasons

An Ikeja High Court has acquitted 29-year-old Ibrahim Yusuf of charges related to the killing of a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer, Mr. Olatunde Awotola.

Justice Oyindamola Ogala delivered the ruling on Monday, stating that the prosecution failed to substantiate the two counts of involuntary manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm.

The judge noted a lack of documentary evidence from the sole prosecution witness and pointed out that there was no record of the incident being reported to the police.

After reviewing all the evidence, Justice Ogala concluded that the prosecution did not meet the burden of proof required for the charges. “The defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted,” she declared.

State Counsel Mr. Ola Azeez represented the prosecution, while Mr. Bidemi Ademola-Bello acted on behalf of the defendant.

The prosecution had claimed that Yusuf attacked the officer during an attempted arrest on February 12, 2022, in Kosoko Ojodu, Lagos. It was alleged that Yusuf obstructed traffic, prompting the LASTMA officer to attempt to impound his vehicle. The prosecution contended that Yusuf then used a knife to stab the officer in the head and neck before fleeing the scene.

The charges against Yusuf fell under Sections 224 and 251 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.