A Lagos High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square has sentenced a 42-year-old tricycle operator, Godswill Akpan, to 10 years in prison for the involuntary manslaughter of his 30-year-old colleague, Baba Ali Bukar.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya delivered the ruling, convicting Akpan after the prosecution successfully proved that his actions caused Bukar’s death. Akpan was initially arraigned on October 18, 2021, following an incident on June 1, 2019, around 12:45 p.m. near the Eko Hotel Roundabout in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Prosecutors told the court that the fatal injury occurred when Akpan struck Bukar in the chest with a stone. The offense was noted to contravene Section 225 and carried a penalty under Section 299 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
During the trial, Akpan pleaded not guilty. The Investigative Police Officer testified that no autopsy was performed on the deceased because Bukar’s family refused on religious grounds.
Akpan testified that the confrontation began over a tricycle queuing dispute after he picked up a passenger. The argument escalated into a physical fight involving slaps. Akpan claimed Bukar attempted to hit him with a stone first, leading Akpan to strike back, hitting Bukar in the chest. Bukar collapsed and later died in the hospital.
Justice Adesanya, however, noted inconsistencies between Akpan’s initial statement and his trial testimony. Despite this, she found the circumstantial evidence compelling, ruling that there was no doubt about Akpan’s responsibility for the killing.
During his plea for leniency, the defence counsel described Akpan as remorseful, a first-time offender, and a family breadwinner. Justice Adesanya subsequently handed down the 10-year custodial sentence.
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