Man Gets Death Sentence for Fatal Fight Over Woman

A Lagos High Court has delivered a decisive ruling in a murder case that shocked the Jakande community. The court sentenced Justice Odey to death by hanging for killing Benedict Agara during a fight over a woman named Amina.

ValidViewNetwork reports that Justice Modupe Nicol‑Clay found Odey guilty of murder under Section 222 of Lagos law.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the judge ruled that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

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Details of the Fatal Incident

Odey killed Agara on April 3, 2021, at Jakande Housing Estate. He stabbed Agara with a broken bottle in the hand, stomach and other areas.

The prosecution called ASP Mariam Ibrahim as its sole witness. The team tendered six exhibits to support the case, ValidViewNetwork reports.

Judge Explains Burden of Proof

Justice Nicol‑Clay said the burden of proof stays with the prosecution. She added, “The burden of proof remains on the prosecution throughout; it does not shift to the accused person, except in limited circumstances.”

She explained that murder can be proved through direct, circumstantial or confessional evidence. She rejected the defence claim that the IPO’s testimony was hearsay.

“The oral evidence of an IPO is not hearsay, contrary to the assertion of the convict’s counsel,” she ruled. “It is the direct evidence of the investigation, and the same is admissible and can be used to convict an accused person.”

Medical Evidence Not Mandatory

The court dismissed the argument that medical proof was required. The judge said, “Medical evidence, though desirable in establishing the cause of death in a case of murder, is not always essential where the victim dies in circumstances in which there is abundant evidence of the manner of death.”

Circumstantial Evidence Links Odey

Justice Nicol‑Clay said no eyewitness saw Odey stab Agara. She added that strong circumstantial evidence placed Odey as the only person who fought and injured Agara.

“There is sufficient proof that the unlawful act of the convict caused the death of the deceased,” she said. “The evidence before the Court unequivocally and unmistakably showed that no other person but Odey was responsible for the death of the deceased.”

Confessional Statement Rejected

The judge ruled that Odey’s alleged confession was inadmissible. She said, “Any confessional statement obtained without video recording or in the presence of a lawyer is inadmissible.”

Final Conviction and Sentence

The court convicted Odey after finding all murder elements proven. “Odey is hereby found guilty of the offence of murder and is convicted of the offence,” she held.

The case arose from a fight between Odey and Agara over Amina. Agara sustained injuries during the confrontation and later died in the hospital.

In a justice system where evidence shapes outcomes, this ruling reinforces the power of clear facts and strong investigation. ValidViewNetwork reports that the judgment highlights the court’s firm stance on violent crime. The case shows how circumstantial evidence can secure justice when direct witnesses are absent, ValidViewNetwork reports.