Dismissed cop bags life imprisonment for killing a soccer fan
Olalekan Ogunyemi, a former police officer, was given a life sentence on Thursday, September 22, for the murder of Kolade Johnson, a football fan, by Adenike Coker of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja.
On March 31, 2019, Kolade Johnson was shot in the lower abdomen by Olalekan Ogunyemi, a member of the Nigerian Police’s Special Anti-Cultism Squad, at a viewing area in Mangoro, Ikeja, Lagos.
The 35-year-old man was shot while watching Tottenham play Manchester United in the English Premier League.
Police authorities identified Ogunyemi and sergeant Godwin Orji as the cops involved in the shooting, which led to uproar on social media.
After a smooth trial, Olalekan was found guilty and fired from the force, while Orji was cleared.
Justice Coker found the defendant guilty of the charge and sentenced him to life in prison with the condition that he serve a minimum of 25 years in prison in charge no: ID/9776C/2019 between the State of Lagos vs. Ogunyemi Olalekan.
Jubril Kareem, the Lagos State prosecution attorney, made his appearance known at the matter’s resumed hearing on Thursday. Abayomi Omotubora represented the defense.
The judge also imposed a life sentence for manslaughter on the fired police officer.
Despite being first accused of murder, Olalekan was ultimately found guilty of manslaughter by the court.
The defense called two witnesses during the trial, while the prosecution summoned seven witnesses.
Dr. Oluwaseun Williams, a pathologist who testified at the trial, said Kolade Johnson was shot six times.
