2012 Fuel Subsidy Protest: Court Jails Killer Cop 15 years For Manslaughter

2012 Fuel Subsidy Protest: Court Jails Killer Cop 15 years For Manslaughter

Three years after he murdered Ademola Daramola, a protester during the 2012 fuel subsidy protest in Lagos, former Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Segun Fabunmi was on Monday sentenced to 15 year imprisonment by a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere. 

The trial judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade jail Fabunmi for ten years for manslaughter and another five years for shooting three other persons, Alimi Abubakar, Egbujor Samuel and Chizorba Odoh, during the protest, causing them grievous bodily harm.

According to the judge both sentences are to run concurrently.

Fabunmi, of No. 12 Oyewole Street, Ogudu, Lagos, was arraigned on May 5, 2013 by the Lagos State government on a seven-count charge bordering on murder, attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm.

At the time of the incident, the defendant was the DPO of Pen Cinema Police Station, Agege and had led out his men to Yaya-Abatan area of Ogba following intelligence report that there was a disturbance in that area.

In her judgment, Justice Akinlade agreed with the defendant that there was indeed a mob at the scene of the incident, but concluded that he gave conflicting testimonies on whether or how an attempt was made to snatch his AK47 rifle and who fired the weapon.

The learned judge also rejected the defence counsel's argument that the shooting was the result of an accident when the defendant struggled with the mob to retain possession of his rifle.

Relying on the witnesses testimonies and all the evidence tendered, the judge held, "The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the defendant recklessly shot his rifle and in the process the bullet hit the deceased. He definitely knew that shooting an AK47 can cause grievous bodily harm to anyone the bullet hit.

"The fact that he was on a lawful duty did not mean that he should have shot his gun sporadically," She held.

The court further held that the prosecutors, Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mrs. Idowu Alakija and Assistant Director Mrs. Abiola Adeyinka, satisfactorily proved the offence of murder but that the evidence provided by the defence team led by George Oguntade (SAN) availed the defendant of the defence of provocation, resulting in the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The judge held, "The defence of provocation will avail the defendant. It is evident that there was no time for his passion to cool before the gun was fired."

Ade, a fashion designer, was shot around 9am on January 9, when the defendant led a patrol  team comprising five junior officers to Yaya-Abatan and Abeokuta Streets around Ogba area of Lagos.