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NIGERIAN KILLED FOR MISTAKENLY STEPPING ON PATRON'S FOOT

By BONGIWE DLAMINI | 2023-01-23

Mistakenly stepping on a patron’s foot is what got a Nigerian man to be killed at the Xchange Lounge and Shisanyama.

The late Chenedu Okokwe, a Nigerian national was stabbed allegedly by one Luyanda Mshengu Mabuza of Fairview. The incident happened on May 10, 2021 at the parking lot. Mabuza was charged with murder and he was arraigned before acting High Court Judge David Khumalo at the Manzini Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

According to Mancoba ‘Khushu’ Dlamini, Mabuza’s friend who witnessed the murder, he and the suspect were enjoying drinks at the Xchange on the night in question when Okokwe went past their table and mistakenly stepped on his foot. Dlamini said the Nigerian man apologised for it, but the suspect did not accept the apology.

Fought
“I spilled alcohol on him and his necklace got broken when I fought him,” stated Dlamini.
During the altercation, Dlamini added that Mabuza told Okokwe to stop assaulting him. At that time, Okokwe is said to have punched Dlamini hard with a fist such that the latter lost consciouness for a short while.

Dlamini said he woke up in time to see Okokwe walking away from him and Mabuza before the latter ran towards the Nigerian man allegedly stabbing him with a knife in the chest.
Mabuza is said to have escaped from the scene shortly after the incident.

Meanwhile, Okokwe’s countrymen who were with him at the Xchange are said to have rushed him to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead after about 30 minutes.

Further, Dlamini said he then left for Fairview together with Mabuza.
While there, one of their friends is said to have learned of Okokwe’s death through a post they saw on Facebook.

In addition, Dlamini emphasised that he saw the knife that Mabuza allegedly used to stab the Nigerian man as he used to carry it almost all the time.
Another witness, David Okoro who was with Okokwe on the night of his death said the man had left their table after he was told that his car was blocking another vehicle at the parking lot.

The purpose of Okokwe going out to the parking lot alone was so he could move his car to allow the other vehicle to leave, not knowing that he would be attacked and killed.
Okoro said he saw other patrons running into the establishment’s drinking hall and he realised that something was amiss.

When he ran outside to check what was going, his fears were proven true, as he saw a bleeding Okokwe coming out of a crowd, who were helplessly watching the fight. The court paraded four other witnesses who testified against Mabuza, who had tendered his plea of not guilty to the charge of murder.

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