A customer killed over N10 cigarette

A 42-year-old man, Alli Mustapha have been arrested for allegedly killing
one of his customers, Idowu Maliki, in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.
It was learnt that Mustapha had a shop at Imope Compound in Ikotun,
where he sold petty goods to people in the community.
An indigene of niger state was alleged to have sold a stick of
cigarette to the deceased on Saturday, March 7, which the latter
refused to pay for.
It was also learnt that when the victim returned to the shop some
minutes later, an argument ensued between him and the suspect.
During the arguement between the the two, it was gathtered that
Mustapha hit Maliki's head with a long stick and he slumped.
Efforts to revive him failed as he was later confirmed dead at the
Igando General Hospital.
Alli statement to the police, Mustapaha admitted to committing the
crime, adding that the deceased had first hit him.
He said, "I don't know the man's name, but he comes to my place to buy
things. On the fateful day, he came to buy a stick of cigarette. He
did not pay for it.
"Maliki returned few minutes later and wanted to enter my shop. I
refused to allow him. But as I tried to stop him, he took a stool and
hit me with it.
" He did not stop there but started looking around for other things to
hit me and that was when I quickly grabbed a long stick which I
usually kept in my shop to protect myself, and hit his head with it."
Firstclass newsline learnt that the killed customer was first rushed
to a private hospital, but was rejected before being taken to the
Igando General Hospital.
Firstclass newsline gathered that the victim's corpse had been
deposited at a morgue in Isolo.
The lagos state police arraigned Mustapha on one count of murder
before an Ebute Meta Magistrate's Court.
The offence was said to be punishable under Section 221 of the
Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
The judge, F.J. Adefioye, asked the Investigating Police Officer,
Sergeant Olaniyan Rasak, to give the facts of the case to the court.
He gave the details by stating that, "On that day, the deceased bought
cigarette from the defendant without paying. Few minutes later, he
returned to the man's shop and along the line, argument ensued.
"The victim punched the defendant on his nose. The defendant then
picked a stick in his shop and hit him on the head."
The police prosecutor, Iyobosa Onaiwu, asked the court to remand
Mustapha in prison.
Beauty Otighi who is the defence counsel, asked the court to prevail
on the prosecution to speedily duplicate the case file for legal
advice and ensure the 30 days window period was not exceeded.
The judge, Adefioye, said, "The defendant is hereby remanded in
custody pending the Directorate of Public Prosecutions legal advice.
The case is adjourned till May 25, 2015."
Firsclassnewsline.net