An Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Tuesday discharged a construction worker, Mohammed Saidu, charged with aiding the escape of his colleague who allegedly beat his co-worker to death during a brawl.
Saidu was charged alongside Emmanuel Udoh, on a two-count charge of manslaughter and accessory after the act.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused were docked on Feb. 20.
Udoh took his plea and pleaded not guilty but Saidu told the court that he understood only his native Hausa language.
Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya, however, remanded the accused so that a Hausa interpreter could be made available to interpret the charge to Saidu.
When the case was called on Tuesday, an interpreter decoded the charge for Saidu and he pleaded guilty to aiding the escape of the other accused (Udoh).
Justice Ogunsanya, said: “the court finds the second defendant guilty as charged.
“The offence the second defendant is charged with, according to the law, carries a maximum punishment of two years imprisonment.
“The information before the court shows that the defendant has been in custody since March 2016.
“The defendant has, therefore, duly served his punishment, and he is hereby discharged.’’
The Prosecutor, Mr K. O. Gbamgbose, earlier told the court that the second accused, Saidu, knowing that Udoh unlawfully killed Mukailah Oluseye, helped him to escape arrest by disposing the corpse of the deceased.
He urged the court to convict the accused based on his plea of guilt to aiding the escape of someone that committed manslaughter.
NAN also reports that on Feb. 20, during arraignment, the prosecutor told the court that the duo committed the alleged offence on Feb. 5, 2016, at Ijaye Road, Ojokoro, Lagos.
He said that the accused unlawfully killed Mukailah Oluseye by beating him to death with his fists.
The offence contravened Sections 299 and 415 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
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