Onome and the victim, Wale Badejo, lived on Ilasan Housing Estate, Ajah, in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.
Punch Metro learnt that Badejo was at a lotto centre on the estate last Wednesday when an argument ensued between him and some gamblers. The argument degenerated and Badejo reportedly destroyed some items in the lotto shop.
After failed attempts to prevail on him to stop the trouble, a resident was said to have invited Onome, a tailor, to confront Badejo.
On getting to the shop, Onome reportedly confronted Badejo, resulting in a fight during which both men exchanged blows.
A resident, who identified himself as Emmanuel, said Onome later fled from the scene, but Badejo gave him a chase.
He said, “The whole thing started as a minor argument between Wale (Badejo) and some people at the lotto shop. Samson (Onome) was called to prevail on him, but the situation became worse. They fought each other. At a point, Samson ran into his room and Wale followed him.
“Wale barged into Samson’s room with a bottle. Samson also brought out a cutlass, hacked him on the head and chopped off his left hand. There was blood everywhere.”
Another eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Badejo was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital, Marina, for treatment, while the incident was reported to the police at the Ilasan division.
“I was shocked, seeing the severed hand. He is still on admission at the hospital. The family was told that the possibility of fixing the hand was slim. The suspect is with the police,” he added.
A police prosecutor, Corporal Friday Mameh, brought 34-year-old Onome before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on two counts of assault and attempted murder.
The charges read, “That you, Onome Samson, on January 11, 2017, at about 8pm at Celestial Area, Ilasan Housing Estate, in the Eti-Osa LGA, within the Lagos Magisterial District, did attempt to kill one Wale Badejo, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 228 (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
“That you, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did use a cutlass to inflict injuries on the head and left arm of one Wale Badejo, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 243 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty and elected to stand trial. His counsel prayed that he should be granted bail in liberal terms.
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