Ex-police officer jailed 10 years for manslaughter in Ekiti

A high court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced a 38-year-old ex-police officer, Tizhe Goji, to 10 years imprisonment for manslaughter. Tizhe Goji was charged and arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Familoni on one-count charge bordering on murder. The prosecutor, Abigail Aladejare, told the court that the accused, on November 21, 2021, at Queens Court […]

A high court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced a 38-year-old ex-police officer, Tizhe Goji, to 10 years imprisonment for manslaughter.

Tizhe Goji was charged and arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Familoni on one-count charge bordering on murder.

The prosecutor, Abigail Aladejare, told the court that the accused, on November 21, 2021, at Queens Court Hotel, Ado-Ekiti, killed one Abayomi Olaoye.

Also, in a statement to the police, a witness, Bukola Omorinkoba, said, “I came with other members of our family, including the deceased, for a wedding ceremony at Ise Ekiti, we lodged at Queens Court Hotel.

“We were relaxing around 9pm at the hotel’s reception. We saw the defendant alongside other police officers in a Toyota Hilux. Immediately they opened the vehicle’s door, he opened fire on us, a bullet hit the deceased and Adebayo Ilori. They were rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. They were later referred to ABUAD Multisystem Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, where Abayomi Olaoye was confirmed dead.”

The prosecutor called four witnesses and tendered the defendants’ statements and medical reports as exhibits.

The accused through his counsel, Barrister Chris Omokhafe, said, “I used the rifle to abort a robbery operation the previous day but forgot to prove and close the rifle’s chamber. I was at Queens Court Hotel to celebrate my promotion with my colleagues, on opening the vehicles’ door, the rifle discharged accidentally, I didn’t do it intentionally.”

Justice Adeniyi Familoni held that the prosecution proved the offence of manslaughter against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

He said, “The penalty for this infraction of the law is grave; it is life imprisonment. I will however be lenient by not imposing the maximum punishment.

“The defendant is hereby convicted for the offence of manslaughter contrary to Section 317 of the Criminal Code, Law of Ekiti State, 2012.

“Consequently, the defendant is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine. The sentence is to run from the date of his arrest and detention.’’