Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 7 January 2016

Source: dailyguideghana.com

Nigerian arrested for stabbing landlord

Suspect, John Collins Alabi in police grip Suspect, John Collins Alabi in police grip

A 27-year-old Nigerian has been arrested by the Kotobabi Police for stabbing his landlord to death for trying to stop him from using their bathhouse.

The deceased, identified as Paul Goka , 23, landlord of a compound house occupied by over 10 tenants at Alajo, according to information, confronted the suspect, John Collins Alabi, 27, for openly having his bath in a demolished bathroom after all tenants were warned to use the public shower.

This led to a disagreement between the landlord and his tenant, which led to John stabbing him in the stomach.

Paul Goka was pronounced dead on arrival at the 37 Military Hospital where he was referred to seek proper medical attention.

The body has since been transferred to the Police Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Confirming the arrest to DAILY GUIDE, ACP Nuhu Jango, the Nima Divisional Police Commander, said the incident occurred at Alajo, an Accra suburb, on January 2, 2016 but the suspect was finally arrested around Nima Roundabout on January 5, 2016.

Around 7:30pm on January 2, 2016, John Collins Alabi first reported to the Kotobabi Police that his landlord, Paul Goka (now deceased), had inflicted knife wounds on his right fourth finger.

He was subsequently given a medical form to go to the hospital for treatment.

Around 9:30pm same day, one Vincent Dzramado also stormed the station to report that John Collins Alabi had stabbed his brother, Paul Goka, in the stomach with a knife.

He said Goka was rushed to the Maamobi Polyclinic for medical attention and was referred to the 37 Military Hospital for proper medical attention but died on arrival.

When police visited the house of John Collins, he was not in the house.

Around 10am on Tuesday, January 5, 2016, police arrested John Collins around the Nima Roundabout.

While in custody, it came to light through investigations that the deceased was stabbed during an argument over a demolished bathroom.

Altercation

Information gathered indicated that suspect John Collins, who is one of the tenants living in a wooden structure apartment belonging to the deceased, was seen that Saturday evening bathing in a demolished bathroom inside the house by the landlord and this resulted in a heated argument.

The house used to have a bathhouse but the brother of the landlord, identified only as Ezekiel, demolished it because some of the tenants were defecating in it.

The landlord, after the bathroom was pulled down, then told all tenants to use the public bathhouse.

The suspect, who claimed he had no money to use the public bathroom, went to have his shower where the old bathroom was located.

The landlord saw him and confronted him but it turned into a heated argument.

John Collins reportedly picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed his landlord in the stomach.

Goka’s was quickly rushed to the Maamobi Polyclinic for medical attention but he was referred to the 37 Military Hospital where he died on arrival.

Suspect John Collins, who claimed he had lived in the house for the past one year, upon hearing the news that his landlord had died, left the house to another location.

Upon his arrest, he admitted the offence and will be sent to court for prosecution.