A 47-year-old security guard, Usman Ibrahim, was on Tuesday sentenced by an Ikeja High Court to 12 years imprisonment, for killing his friend, Ahmed Aminu, on 14 February 2007.
Justice Lateefat Okunnu found the culprit guilty of an offence of involuntary manslaughter.
The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had charged Ibrahim to court on a one-count charge of murder.
The prosecutor, Mrs Mosunola Balogun, told the court that Ibrahim killed Aminu after he found out that the deceased was having an affair with his wife, Anna.
Balogun said the incident occurred at No. C-14 Amuwo Odofin Street, Lagos.
“Ibrahim was informed that Aminu was having an affair with his wife and in an effort to uncover the truth, Ibrahim started monitoring her movement
“On the night of Feb. 14, 2007, Ibrahim closed early from work, went home and hid himself in the kitchen. At around midnight, Aminu knocked on the window and his wife admitted him into the apartment.”
The prosecution said Ibrahim came out of hiding and stabbed his friend with a dagger which led to his death.
In his testimony, Ibrahim told the court that Aminu was armed with a knife and had threatened to kill him on the day of the incident.
He said that it was when they were dragging the knife and dagger that he discovered that he had killed his friend.
Delivering her judgment, the judge held that the prosecution failed to prove the charge of murder against Ibrahim beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Okunnu said the evidence before the court was not sufficient to warrant a murder charge which attracts death penalty.
She therefore, convicted Ibrahim of the lesser offence of involuntary manslaughter.
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