Man Receives Five-Year Jail Term For Assaulting Police Officer On Duty

Man Receives Five-Year Jail Term For Assaulting Police Officer On DutyA Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has convicted 38-year-old driver, Sunday Okodo, and sentenced him to five years in prison for inflicting grievous bodily harm on a police officer, David Zapania, attached to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

Justice Oyindamola Ogala, who delivered the verdict on Wednesday, convicted Okodo on three out of five counts filed against him by the Lagos State Government. The court found him guilty on counts two, four, and five, while acquitting him on the other charges.

The prosecution had argued that Okodo deliberately struck Officer Zapania with his vehicle while attempting to flee after being stopped for driving against traffic. In addition to assaulting the police officer, Okodo was charged with resisting arrest, reckless driving, driving without a valid license, and attempted murder.

Okodo was arraigned on November 10, 2021, and initially pleaded not guilty to all charges. During the proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, called for the maximum penalty, citing the public interest in the case. The defense, represented by Mr. Boniface Ohemu, pleaded for leniency, emphasizing that Okodo was a first-time offender with an elderly mother.

Before sentencing, Justice Ogala asked Okodo if he had any final words, to which he responded, “I am sorry, Ma.”

In her ruling, Justice Ogala emphasized that sentencing serves three key purposes: retribution, deterrence, and the protection of society. She noted that the court must balance the interests of the victim, the defendant, and society in determining an appropriate sentence.

For count two, which involved causing grievous bodily harm, Okodo was sentenced to four years in prison. However, Justice Ogala stated that the time Okodo had already spent in custody between February and November 2021 would be credited toward his sentence. For count four, he received an additional one-year sentence, and for count five, he was fined N20,000. All sentences will run concurrently.

This ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for accountability in cases involving violence against law enforcement officers.

For more information on this article and other related posts from Bushradiogist, please join our WhatsApp channel by clicking this link https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaUumOODTkK7AZL1Fw3o. For advertisement inquiries only, kindly send a message to 090 1907 0863 on WhatsApp.