A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja yesterday sentenced a 28-year-old man, Collins Abakwe to 10-years imprisonment for being found guilty of stabbing his younger brother to death with a broken bottle.
Justice Raliat Adebiyi sentenced the convict after finding him guilty of a one count charge of involuntary manslaughter, stabbing his younger brother, Chibuke Abakwe to death. The convict was arraigned in 2013 for murder and he pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him by the state government.
Following his plea of not guilty, the state however commenced trial before he changed his plea. Before his sentencing, the judge confirmed if he understood the meaning of plea bargain agreement he entered into. The defendant replied in the affirmative, telling the court that he signed the agreement himself.
Justice Adebiyi therefore sentenced the convict to 10 years imprisonment. She held that the court is satisfied with the jail term agreed upon by the prosecuting counsel and the defence counsel who had earlier made their submissions after the defendant was ‘re-arraigned on the charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Mrs. O.A Olusaga informed the court that the defendant has decided to change his plea and the prosecution has also amended the charge against him.
Stating the fact of the case, Olugasa said Collins Abakwe on February 14, 2013 at No. 54, Adeyanju Street, Amukoko, stabbed his younger brother, Chibuke Abakwe to death with a broken bottle and pleaded guilty to the amended charge of involuntary manslaughter.
According to the prosecution, the defendant and his younger brother on the said date had a quarrel over a friend’s girlfriend who was trying to pass the night in their place. “The quarrel got so violent and he ended up stabbing his younger brother, which later resulted to his death.” His offence contravened section 227 and punishable under section 221 of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015. She therefore prayed that the court will order the family of the convict to take him to a rehabilitation center for proper counseling when he eventually comes out of the prison.
