Teenager stabs neighbour to death over firewood money

 

The police have arrested an 18-year-old man, Nwabuike Enwerem, for allegedly killing his teenage neighbour, Sunday IIaya.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Enwerem stabbed Ilaya with a knife on the left side of the neck during a scuffle over money given to their younger brothers to share.

The incident happened on Mulianu Street, Ajangbadi, Lagos State.

Our correspondent learnt that the duo fought to defend their younger brothers who were given money after fetching firewood for a ceremony in the neighbourhood.

After the job had been done, the suspect’s younger brother was said to have complained to him that he had been short-changed by the deceased’s younger brother.

A fight was said to have broken out in the neighbourhood and before anyone knew what was happening, Enwerem, was alleged to have entered his parent’s room and dashed out with a knife with which he stabbed and killed the victim.

The Anambra State indigene was arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court on one count of murder.

The charge read, “That you, Nnabaike Enwerem, on December 24, 2014, at about 8.30pm, at Mulianu Street, Ajangbadi, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Sunday Ilaya, aged 18 years, by stabbing him with a knife on the left side of his neck and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”

The defendant’s plea was not taken for the charge.

The representative of the police prosecutor, Woman Corporal Lydia Akhadolome, applied that the defendant be remanded in custody, reminding the court that he was facing a murder charge.

She said the police were ready to transfer the case to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

The defence counsel, Saka Bello, did not oppose the remand application.

The magistrate, Nurudeen Layeni, granted the police application.

He said, “The defendant is to be remanded in custody for the first 30 days pending legal advice from the DPP. The police are also to duplicate the case file on time.”

The matter was adjourned till March 10, 2015 for legal advice.