Court frees man accused of fratricide

An Akure High Court has freed a man, Ikudehinbu Odunayo, who was accused of killing his 35-year-old elder brother, Segun. The state had dragged Ikudehinbu, in his early 20s, to court on a one-count charge of manslaughter for allegedly stabbing Segun to death in a fit of rage at Ayodele Compound, College Road, Igbokoda, Ilaje […]

An Akure High Court has freed a man, Ikudehinbu Odunayo, who was accused of killing his 35-year-old elder brother, Segun.

The state had dragged Ikudehinbu, in his early 20s, to court on a one-count charge of manslaughter for allegedly stabbing Segun to death in a fit of rage at Ayodele Compound, College Road, Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on December 3, 2017.

A family member, Orimisan Ikudehinbu, was the complainant in the case.

Odunayo had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to the prosecution, the defendant hit his late brother, Segun on the head with a hurricane lantern and stabbed him on the throat with a knife during a fight, which led to death.

The prosecution, his led by J. K. Orimoloye of the Department of Public Prosecution, Ondo State Ministry of Justice, said investigation conducted by the police had it that the crime happened following a heated argument which degenerated into a fight between the accused person and the deceased.

Odunayo was said to have taken to his heels but was later apprehended by the police.

But the accused person maintained before the court that he didn’t kill his brother as alleged, saying the latter only fell down and died during the fight.

Under cross examination, Odunayo denied seeing any blood on the deceased when he (Segun) was being rushed to the hospital.

Justice Samuel Bola discharged and acquitted the accused person for failure of the prosecution to establish a case of murder against him.