By Bartholomew Madukwe

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a Police Corporal, Abang Okon, charged for unlawful killing of one Olalekan Ajayi, to six years imprisonment.

It would be recalled that the convict had pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge brought against him by Lagos State government, but later changed his plea, following a plea bargain arrangement with the government.

At the resumed hearing, state prosecutor, Adebayo Haroun, informed the court of the plea bargain arrangement between the convict and the state.

He urged the court to approve the guilty plea as involuntary manslaughter. Trial judge, Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya, refused to adopt it wholesale.

The judge also rejected a part of the bargain that recommen-ded that the defendant serve a six-hour community.

Furthermore, Justice Ogunsanya refused to adopt the part of the bargain which recommended that the defendant be responsible for paying the school fees of one of the deceased’s children from primary to secondary school.

He ruled: “The defendant, having shown remorse for his actions on the August 28, 2013, along Ladega Junction, Ikorodu, Lagos, by negligently firing a bullet at one Olalekan Ajayi, which resulted in his death, hereby pleads guilty to the offence of involuntary manslaughter contrary to Section 222 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

“The defendant is, hereby, sentenced to six years imprisonment to take effect from the date of his remand in prison custody.”