MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 24-year old man, Peter Adebayo, has been arrested and charged in Ondo State for allegedly killing his friend, Lekan Raji, by smashing his head with a cooking gas cylinder after taking hard substances known as Colorado.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 23rd February, 2024, at Ireakari Street, Akure.
He was charged before the Akure Magistrate for murder, which attracts several years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.
The prosecutor, Inspector Taiwo Oniyere, told the Court that the defendant committed the offence when his behaviour was queried.
“The deceased came home on that day and was not happy with the way the defendant was misbehaving. So, he challenged him. But the defendant, who was under the influence of ‘Colorado’, hit the deceased with the cylinder and so he fell and died.”
The prosecutor alleged that the offence contravened Sections 316 and 319 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 37 Vol. 1 of Ondo State 2006.
However, the Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned after the prosecutor asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP. He was ordered to be remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, Akure, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The Presiding Magistrate, T. O. Olusola-Olujobi, adjourned the matter till 19th March, 2024, for mention pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice, which will determine whether the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.