Admin l Monday, November 01, 2021
TBS, Lagos, Nigeria – A Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square has sentenced a 32 year old man to 18 years imprisonment for stabbing another in the neck with a broken bottle.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya convicted Sanni after he pleaded guilty to one count charge of involuntary manslaughter brought against him by the Lagos State government.
Sanni who pleaded guilty to the offence of stabbing one Jide Felix to death with a broken bottle on the neck. The incident occurred at 8 PM on December 18, 2015 at LUTH junction, Agege Motor Road, Mushin, Lagos.
He was charged to court and earlier pleaded not guilty when he was fist arraigned on January 18, 2021. The defendant thereafter approached the prosecution, applied for plea bargain. However, when the matter was called, the prosecution counsel, Mr Olayemi Shofolu informed the court that the prosecution have amended charge and has filed plea bargain agreement before the court.
The trial Justice Adesanya asked if he is aware of amended charge of plea bargain. He answered in the affirmative and in a sober manner. The defendant who was weeping before the court was therefore re-arraigned on the amended charge of involuntary manslaughter dated October 4, 2021, contrary to section 227 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.
Following his guilty plea, his counsel, Mrs K.F Balogun in her allocutus, vehemently pleaded for mercy. She told the court that defendant had since regretted his action.
“My lord, we are praying the court to temper justice with mercy. The defendant has since regretted his action, he is remorseful knowing the gravity of the offence.
” We sympathise with the family of the deceased. The defendant is a young man that has a life time ahead of him. He has lost his wife, father and mother while he was in prison. Defendant is 32 years old. He considered plea bargain for restoring his life after serving the prison term. What the defendant did was out of youthful exuberance.”
The trial judge however sentenced him to 18 years imprisonment from date he was remanded. The court queried the defendant for his senseless behaviour.
“ What were you thinking when you stabbed somebody in the neck with a broken bottle ?
She said she considered the gravity of the offence committed by the defendant as well as the allocutus. The judge held that the court was not bound by the plea bargain agreement. ” In the view of guilty plea, I hereby sentenced you Saheed Sanni to 18 years imprisonment.”
