Court remands policeman for killing conductor over N50

Kazeem Adeoye

A former police corporal, Oluwakiyesi Gboyega, has been remanded in Ikoyi prison, one year after allegedly shooting to death a bus conductor, Kazeem Adeoye, at Tipper Garage, Ketu area of Lagos.

Gboyega, who was attached to Mopol 50, Abuja at the time of the incident, was said to have shot the deceased over N50 transport change.

PUNCH Metro had reported on November 8, 2012, that the defendant was on mufti when he had a confrontation with the bus conductor.

Our correspondent reported that Gboyega was to alight at Ketu and demanded his transport change from the late Adeoye, who said he did not have the change.

An argument reportedly ensued between the duo and the deceased was said to have in fit of anger slapped the former cop, after the latter abused him.

In retaliation, Gboyega allegedly pulled out his gun and shot the deceased in the head at close range.

The victim died on the spot.

A riot was said to have broken out as bus drivers, area boys and residents mobbed the Alapere Police Division, in the belief that the killer cop came from the station.

However, calm was restored after Gboyega was arrested and the police assured residents that justice would be done.

The suspect was thereafter dismissed from the police force and had been kept in detention.

He was arraigned on one count of murder before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court.

The Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Yemi Olagbende, of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, in a remand application before the court, said Gboyega did not confess to the crime and no weapon was recovered from him.

He said the police would rely on only eyewitness evidence.

 The murder charge read, “That you, Oluwakiyesi Gboyega, on November 7, 2012 at about 5.30pm, at Tipper Garage, Ketu Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Kazeem Adeoye, aged 25 years, by shooting him with a gun.”

The police prosecutor, Ishola Samuel, said the offence was punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant’s plea was not taken.

Samuel applied that the defendant be remanded in prison, in line with Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice, Lagos State, 2011.

The defence counsel, Spurgeon Ataene, however applied for the bail of the defendant because he had been in custody for a long time.

Ataene added that since the offence was committed during the defendant’s official duty, he ought to be charged for manslaughter and not murder.

The magistrate, Mrs M.O. Tanimola, said the decision should be left to the DPP.

She said, “The defendant is to be remanded in prison custody pending legal advice from the DPP.”

The matter was adjourned till February 19, 2014