Police Arraign DSP that Killed Nenadi Usman’s Daughter

The Nigerian Police on Friday arraigned a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Inagozie Godwin, before an Abuja High Court over the alleged murder of Miss Anita Akapson, a niece to a former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman.

DSP Godwin was said to have shot Miss Akapson at close range while she sat inside her car. She later died few hours after she was rushed to a nearby hospital in Gwarinpa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In a criminal charge filed by the Commissioner of Police against DSP Godwin, aged 36, it was stated that Anita Akapson, 31, was shot to death on October 13, 2018 at about 9:45p.m., at Katampe area of Abuja.

The one-count charge, which the prosecutor said was a criminal offence, to wit culpable homicide ran contrary to section 22(3) of the penal code and punishable under section 22(4) of the same code.

Godwin, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following his not guilty plea, Prosecuting Counsel, Donatus Abah, asked the court for a date for commencement of trial of defendant.

Counsel to the defendant, Paul Samsoninformed the court of his client’s bail application, dated October 30, and filed same day.

After taking submissions by both counsel on the bail application, the trial judge, Justice A. O Ebong admitted the defendant on bail in the sum of N50m with two sureties.

Justice Ebong said he was minded to grant the defendant bail because the police prosecutor failed to advance cogent reasons under the law why bail should not be granted to the DSP.

The court noted that the offence was a culpable homicide, not punishable by death, but carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Whereas the defence counsel relied on section 162 of ACJA to persuade the court to grant the accused bail, however, Justice Ebong said, that section in particular applies in offences that carry not more than three years sentence.