By Oghenemaro Eruteyan

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The Ondo State Police Command on Thursday arraigned a 38-year-old man, Bukola Bolaji, before an Akure Chief Magistrate Court, for the alleged murder of a commercial motorcyclist, Lawrence Godwin over N150 ticket.

The defendant is charged with murder.

The Prosecutor, Wada Simon, informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on February 22, 2024, at about 8:30pm at Lafe-Inn Street, Akure.

Wada alleged that the defendant killed a 35-year-old motorcyclist, Godwin, by pushing him on his motorcycle while the deceased hit his head on a concrete gutter, which eventually led to his death.

The charge reads in part: “That you, Bukola Bolaji, ‘M’ on February 22, 2024, at about 8:30am at Lade-Inn Street, Akure, in the Akure Magisterial District, conspired to commit felony and unlawfully killed one Godwin Lawrence, aged 35 years, by pushing him away from his motorcycle, and he hit his head on concrete gutter.”

The offence contravenes Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1 Laws of the Ondo State Nigeria, 2006.

But he pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

Due to the nature of the offence, the prosecutor, through an application urged the court to remand the defendant at the correctional centre pending advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions(DPP).

The defendant’s counsel, C.O. Falana, prayed to the court for an adjournment to enable him reply to the prosecutor’s application.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Kolawole A. Aro ordered that the defendant be taken to Owo Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till March 14, 2024, for hearing.