An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced a 22-year-old Togolese cook, Sunday Anani, to life imprisonment for the October 31 murder of the Chief Executive Officer of Credit Switch Ltd, Ope Bademosi.
Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile handed Anani a life sentence despite pleading guilty to one-count charge of voluntary manslaughter.
The cook had confessed to stabbing his boss to death in an attempt to rob him.
Anani also confirmed that he was the person caught on closed circuit television (CCTV) fleeing the scene of the crime after the murder.
The cook committed the offence at the deceased’s residence at 3b, Onikoyi Lane, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Anani was originally arraigned on a two-count charge of murder and armed robbery.
The charges would have earned him a sentence of death by hanging on conviction had he not stuck a plea bargain deal with the Lagos State Government soon after the trial commenced.
“It is annoying that a young man like this would involve himself in this kind of crime. What did he hope to achieve in life involving himself in this kind of crime, I ask? It is very painful that a young boy whom the family of Bademosi welcomed in their home as a cook ended up causing so much havoc and endless pain.
“It is even more painful that the defendant had no motive of working but came into the house with a criminal intention to steal to kill and to destroy.
“The defendant admitted ‘I killed him.’ This was an innocent and unsuspecting family.
“Sunday Adefonou Anani, defendant of this court, is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment. The term of imprisonment shall commence from today (yesterday) June 25, 2019,” the judge said.
