Court Jails Tricycle Operator 10 Years For Manslaughter

Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square has convicted and sentenced a tricycle rider, Godswill Akpan, to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter following a dispute over a passenger loading order in Victoria Island.

Justice Adesanya jailed 42-year-old Akpan after holding that the prosecution had sufficiently proved that Akpan caused the death of 30-year-old Baba Ali Bukar during a June 1, 2019, altercation at the Eko Hotel Roundabout over queue-jumping.

The judge described the incident as a tragic example of how minor disagreements at transport hubs can escalate into deadly violence.

The Lagos State government, during the trial, had told the judge that the altercation, which started as a disagreement over taking a charter passenger for N700, quickly turned violent, ending with Akpan hitting Bukar in the chest with a stone, which led to Bukar’s collapse and death.

Although no autopsy was performed due to religious objections from Bukar’s brother, the court held that the circumstantial evidence, including Akpan’s inconsistent statements, left no doubt that he was responsible for the fatal blow.

Justice Adesanya held, “The prosecution has proved its case,” emphasising that Akpan’s attempt to revise his initial account indicated guilt.

The convict was arraigned in 2021 under Section 299 of the Lagos Criminal Law, and he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution called only one witness, an Investigative Police Officer, and tendered one exhibit, while Akpan testified in his own defence.

During sentencing, Akpan’s lawyer pleaded for mercy, describing him as a first-time offender, remorseful, and the breadwinner of his family.

However, the court held that the offence is a severe one that warranted a significant punishment; therefore, it handed down a 10-year custodial sentence.