Actor stabbed neighbour to death over N1,000 electricity bill

An Ikeja Special Offences Court heard how an actor, Temitayo Ogunbusola, stabbed his neighbour, Oladotun Osho, to death with a knife following a disagreement over the payment of an N1,000 electricity bill.

An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Kazeem Oladimeji from the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Lagos gave the narration before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe.

Led in evidence by the state prosecuting counsel, Adebanke Ogunde, during resumed proceedings, ASP Oladimeji told the court that he and other members of his team investigated a case of murder involving the defendant.

ASP Oladimeji told the court that the alleged murder case file was transferred to him on May 28, 2022, including the defendant, 30-year-old Temitayo Ogunbusola.

He said the complainant in the matter, Joshua Osho volunteered a statement and that the defendant also made the statement after being cautioned.

He said the defendant Ogunbusola admitted to the crime.

ASP Oladimeji said the incident happened at No. 4 Sebil Kazeem Street in Ikotun area of Lagos State.

He said an investigation at the house where the incident took place revealed that they had a misunderstanding over a NEPA bill that resulted in physical combat.

He said: “The defendant brought out a knife and chased the deceased to a nearby street where he was stabbed.”

He said the investigation revealed that Ogunbusola who was a tenant at No. 4 Sebil Kazeem Street, Ikotun, Lagos has not been cooperating with the landlord and other tenants of the house as a result of which series of fighting often occurred on the premises.

He said the deceased sustained a knife injury from the knife which Ogunbusola used to stabbed him.

Another of the investigators, Inspector Ojo Isreal with Force No. AP 244299 told the court that the defendant confirmed that he stabbed the deceased.

According to him: “On 15th May, 2020, at about 1900hours, the case was reported that someone stabbed another around Ikotun-Egbe.

“When we reached there, they directed us to an hospital.

“We met Temitayo on the ground in front of the hospital because he wanted to escape and he was holding the knife with the blood, he also sustained some injuries.’’

‘He said he discovered that during investigation, the complainant, the deceased and defendant were living together in the same apartment and they said they had issue of NEPA bill which is just N1,000.

The State counsel, Ogunde tendered before the court, the complainant’s statement, defendant’s statement, photograph of the deceased, hospital index card, Coroner form, Police investigation activities and copy of COVID-19 test.

All documents were admitted as evidence by the judge.

The defence Counsel, Wale Ademoyega, while cross examining the witness queried why the Police did not intervene appropriately when the defendant and other occupants brought their disagreement to the Ikotun Police Station.

Inspector Ojo responded that the Station Officer told him about the incident but added that he cautioned them to make peace.

Asked if he was aware that the defendant came back to tell them at the station that he was not allowed to enter the house, he replied that he was not aware.

The matter has been adjourned till January 17 and 18, 2023 for the continuation of trial.