Man Killed In Lagos Over N10 Cigarette

The police in Lagos have arrested a 42-year-old
man, Alli Mustapha, for allegedly killing one of his
customers, Idowu Maliki, in the Ikotun area of Lagos
State.
It was learnt that Mustapha had a shop at Imope
Compound in Ikotun, where he sold petty goods to
people in the community.
The Niger State indigene was alleged to have sold a
stick of cigarette to the deceased on Saturday,
March 7, which the latter refused to pay for.
Our correspondent learnt that when the victim
returned to the shop some minutes later, an
argument ensued between him and the suspect.
In the ensuing scuffle, our correspondent learnt
that Mustapha hit Maliki's head with a long stick and
he slumped.
Efforts to revive him failed as he was later
confirmed dead at the Igando General Hospital.
In his statement to the police, Mustapaha admitted
to committing the crime, adding that the deceased
had first hit him.
He said, "I don't know the man's name, but he
comes to my place to buy things. On the fateful day,
he came to buy a stick of cigarette. He did not pay
for it.
"He returned few minutes later and wanted to enter
my shop. I refused to allow him. But as I tried to
stop him, he took a stool and hit me with it.
"Then he started looking around for other things to
hit me and that was when I quickly grabbed a long
stick which I usually kept in my shop to protect
myself, and hit his head with it."
It was learnt that the victim was first rushed to a
private hospital, but was rejected before being
taken to the Igando General Hospital.
It was also learnt that his corpse had been
deposited at a morgue in Isolo.
The police arraigned Mustapha on one count of
murder before an Ebute Meta Magistrate's Court.
The offence was said to be punishable under
Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State,
Nigeria, 2011.
The magistrate, F.J. Adefioye, asked the
Investigating Police Officer, Sergeant Olaniyan
Rasak, to give the facts of the case to the court.
Rasak said, "On that day, the deceased bought
cigarette from the defendant without paying. Few
minutes later, he returned to the man's shop and
along the line, argument ensued.
"The deceased punched the defendant on his nose.
The defendant then picked a stick in his shop and hit
him on the head."
The police prosecutor, Iyobosa Onaiwu, asked the
court to remand Mustapha in prison.
The defence counsel, Beauty Otighi, asked the court
to prevail on the prosecution to speedily duplicate
the case file for legal advice and ensure the 30 days
window period was not exceeded.
The magistrate, Adefioye, said, "The defendant is
hereby remanded in custody pending the
Directorate of Public Prosecutions legal advice. The
case is adjourned till May 25, 2015."