In Lagos: Man bags 10 years for stabbing brother to death

Justice Raliat Adebiyi sentenced the convict, who was arraigned on a charge of murder in 2013, after finding him guilty of a less charge of involuntary manslaughter.

An Ikeja High Court on Wednesday sentenced a 28-year-old man, Collins Abakwe, to 10 years in prison for stabbing his younger brother, Chibuike Abakwe, to death during an argument over someone else’s lover.

Justice Raliat Adebiyi sentenced the convict, who was arraigned on a charge of murder in 2013, after finding him guilty of a less charge of involuntary manslaughter.

The initial charge of murder was commuted to manslaughter following a plea bargain agreement the convict had with the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Following the plea bargain agreement, the convict was re-arraigned on Wednesday but he pleaded not guilty to an amended charge of manslaughter.

“The court is satisfied with the jail term agreed upon by the prosecution and defence counsel.

“The defendant is hereby sentenced to 10 years imprisonment,” Justice Adebiyi said.

Before handing down the sentence, Justice Adebiyi enquired from the convict whether he understood the meaning of the agreement he had entered into.

The convict, replying in the affirmative, told the court that he had signed the agreement himself.

According to Mrs O. A. Olugasa, the lead state prosecutor, the convict committed the offence on Valentine’s day, Feb. 14, 2013 at No. 54 Adeyanju St., Amukoko, Lagos.

“Collins stabbed his younger brother, Chibuike, to death with a broken bottle during an argument.

“The siblings were arguing over a friend’s girlfriend who was trying to pass the night in their home.

“The misunderstanding became very violent and Collins ended up stabbing his younger brother, resulting in his death,” she said.

Olugasa also requested that the court should order the family of the convict to admit him in a rehabilitation centre.

“This is to enable him to undergo proper counseling when he finishes his prison term,” she said.

The offences contravened Sections 221 and 227 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011.