Investigative Police Officer (IPO) Inspector Israel Ojo, on January 9, 2023, described how Nollywood actor Temitayo Phillips Ogunbusola allegedly fatally stabbed his neighbor Oladotun Osho over a N1,000 electricity bill.
The 32-year-old actor was charged with murder but entered a not-guilty plea.
The incident took place at their residence at No. 4, Sebil Kazeem, Cele-Igbe, Ikotun, Lagos on Saturday, May 17, 2020.
Ojo, who is an officer in charge of surveillance in Ikotun Division, testified before the court that the case was reported on May 15, 2020, at around 7:00 p.m.
Ojo was introduced as a witness by Adebanke Ogunnde, the state prosecutor.
The brother of the deceased, Joshua Osho, reported the incident to the station, the police officer testified in court.
He said, “When I got to the hospital the deceased was rushed to, I met him on a stretcher with a deep cut on his left chest, lying lifeless. I also met the defendant who had also sustained minor injuries, sitting down in front of the hospital with a knife in his hands.
“He said he wanted to stab more people but my team and I stylishly collected the knife from him and took him to the station.
“There were many people, mostly Hausa boys in front of the hospital and I asked what happened and they told me the defendant was apprehended when he wanted to escape.
“I took the defendant to a hospital beside the station to treat the injuries he sustained. His statement was taken voluntarily while the statement of the brother of the deceased was also taken.
“Investigation revealed that the deceased, with some other tenants and the defendant, had issues on NEPA bill in which the defendant refused to pay N1,000.
“The defendant angrily went inside the house, brought out a table knife and stabbed the deceased in the chest, following the disagreement.”