By Oluwadamilola Akinduro
& Ayodele Popoola
|
A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Oke-Eda, Akure has ordered the remand of a 47-year-old building contractor, Tender James Godson, at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, for allegedly crushing a policeman to death over N4.6million fraud.
The defendant who resides in Lagos was also charged for N4.6million fraud.
He was arraigned by the police on seven counts charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, fraud, obtaining under false pretense and illegal possession of arms.
The prosecutor, Inspector Nelson Akintimehin, told the court that Godson committed the offences at different times on July 22, 2023, at Police checkpoint at Ori Ohin, lfon-Ose Local Government and Oba Adesida market in Akure.
Akintimehin alleged that the accused intentionally killed a police officer, ASP Oyewole Emmanuel,53, by crushing him to death with a Ford Pick-Up van with number plate F150XLT, while at his lawful duty post.
The prosecutor also told the court that the defendant at about 12:30pm, at Oba-lle, had in his possession, the following items; one Paintball Maker, three paintball maker magazine, one toy rubber pistol, three motorola GP 388, three Motorola chargers, one air gas cylinder for paintball maker, one military camouflage tent and cover, which he could not give satisfactory account of.
He also said the defendant on July 21, 2023 at about 2:00pm, at Oba Adesida market, in Akure, under false representation fraudulently collected the sum of N4,600,000 cash from one Mubowale Oshodi, by sending a fake credit alert to her Bank account number 0011428750 domiciled at Jaiz Bank Plc, after collecting cash from her.
The defendant was also alleged of impersonating as a member of the Nigeria Army by using military camouflage bags, dress and vehicle seat cover with intent to fraudulently dupe members of the public.
The prosecutor further stated that the defendant damaged one unregistered Toyota Corolla 2013 model car valued at N6,500,000, property of one Mubowale Oshodi .
The defendant also threatened the life of the victim with a toy pistol.
The offences, he said, contravened Sections 316, 319, 419, 383, 390(9) , 110, 451 and 86 of the Criminal Law of Ondo State, 2006.
The prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused in correctional centre pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
In his reply, the defence counsel, O.F. Adeyerin urged the court to discountenance the prosecutor’s application.
He submitted that the deceased’s relatives have decided to withdraw the complaint against the defendant and that the items recovered from the defendant are gadgets for playing paintballs game, and a player of the game is entitled to have in his possession.
Responding, the prosecutor argued that the family of the victim are not in the position to withdraw a murder case of a police officer, saying only the Inspector General of Police or the state has the power.
Chief Magistrate Muse Al-Yunus, in his ruling, ordered that the accused be remanded at Olokuta Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till December 8, 2023 for mention.
