Evelyn Usman & Victor Jacob
When 20-year-old Charles Kelly, left his Uyo , Akwa-Ibom home town in search for greener pasture in Lagos, March this year, he did not envisage that his stay in the jungle city was going to be characterized by an unforgettable incident that would change the course of his life.

This is because, as you read this piece, the secondary school drop- out has been arrested by the Police for allegedly stabbing a 29-year-old man to death during a scuffle Monday in a bakery at Aguda Ogba area of Lagos.

Wearing a remorseful look and with a voice filled with uncertainty, he narrated how he had left his serene village for Lagos, unaware of where to put up. But by sheer stroke of luck, he reportedly met a man who came to supply some loaves of bread to some retailers in Ojota area of Lagos, where in the course of their conversation, the stranger later identified as baba, directed him to a bakery at number 30, Kokumo Street, Aguda Agege, where unfortunately, he was given an immediate employment.

But his joy was short lived as barely four months later , he was engaged in a scuffle with one of his colleagues leading to the latter’s demise.

However, In this interview with Crime Guard, Charles spoke in a low tone, attributing his out burst on that fateful day to his colleague’s insincerity.

He cheated me

“Not only was I employed at the bakery to be removing bread from the pans but I was also giving an accommodation inside the bakery because I did not have anywhere to stay in Lagos.

But to my surprise, I noticed that each time I received my money from Erinola Akinyemi (deceased), instead of being paid N2000, which is my weekly pay, he would give me N1700.

At first I thought that was the actual amount because of my sleeping in the bakery. But when I raised the issue with other colleagues, I was made to understand that my weekly salary was N2000 and not N1700″.

Asked whether Erinola was in-charge of payment, he shook his head saying, “ he is not. We usually go to the accountant to collect our money. But each time I get there I would be told he had already collected mine. He earned N5000 with others but we are only two that earn N2000″.

Also asked if the deceased facilitated his being employed, he shook his head in disapproval.
Then, fight broke out

Apparently afraid of confronting Erinola, either because of the age difference or for fear of being sacked, he managed to endure. However, Monday, July 19, 2010 availed him an opportunity to react to what he termed injustice. But when he did, the effect was too devastating and never provided the envisaged solution

“On Monday at about 4pm, after I had finished removing bread from the pans, I came out to rest. Just then ,Erinola called and sent me to buy him pure water. But I refused . He got angry and hit me and we started fighting. When I felt he would over power me because he was older, I made for two bottles, smashed them together and stabbed him in the hand.

He then rushed inside and brought out a knife which is used to slice bread. When I sighted him charging at me, I held his hand and started struggling the knife with him. Then , I placed my right leg behind him and he fell down with the knife pointing towards his stomach, with me falling on him. At that point the knife pierced into his stomach and he shouted, yeh!, Charles has killed me”.

Crime Guard gathered that while the fight was on, their colleagues were watching, some in amusement with hands at akimbo and others in support of what they believed was a fight for justice. None of them, as confirmed by Charles, even bothered to prevent Charles from stabbing Erinola , nor did they make any attempt at retrieving the knife.

But the seeming amusement turned into shock as their eyes literarily popped out of the sockets when the knife pierced into Erinola’s stomach, with his intestines thrusting out. At that moment, some of them reportedly fled the scene while others chanted ‘ ehen! Charles don kill person .

Erinola , as gathered, was later rushed to the Ikeja General Hospital, where unfortunately, he gave up the ghost.

My regret

Charles who still maintained he never stabbed Erinola , said “ honestly I never intended to stab him. I have never hurt anyone with a knife . I regret every bit of my action. If I had known , I would have remained in the village farming.

I only left Uyo in search of work in Lagos. I dropped out of Senior Secondary School 1 because my parents could not afford to pay my school fees and being the first child out of three children, I thought to myself that I have to do something to assist my siblings. But what is before me now is much more than what I envisaged” he regretted.

The Lagos State Police Public relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba said at the conclusion of investigation by detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID)Panti, the suspect would be charged to court. He however, advised employers of labor to provide a secured environment by putting away dangerous objects that are not tools of their trades.