A 29-year-old man, Adedayo Olawole has been sentenced to death by hanging by an Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division for the murder of one Chukwudi Joseph.
Olawole was also sentenced to seven years imprisonment for conspiracy in the murder of the deceased person.
Ekiti News reports that the culprit was arraigned on March 29, 2023, on two counts bordering on conspiracy and murder.
The charge reads, “That Adedayo Olawole and others now at large at Eporo in Emure Ekiti did conspire to murder one Chukwudi Joseph. The offences are contrary to Sections 244 and 243 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State Nigeria, 2021.”
In his testimony before the court, a cousin to the deceased, said he saw the defendant and some other boys hit the deceased with planks and later one of the defendant’s gang members stabbed him in the left side of his chest, he fell down and died before some people could get there for rescue.
Ibironke Odetola, the prosecutor called six witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements, pictures of the deceased and other supporting documents as exhibits.
M.A. Daramola, the defense lawyer who spoke and called one witness called six witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements, pictures of the deceased and other supporting documents as exhibits.
Justice Jubril Aladejana, in his judgment, said that assaulting the deceased with planks before being stabbed in the left part of his chest showed that the assailants intended to cause him grievous bodily harm or his death.
Justice Aladejana, who said that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant and others at large conspired to commit the felony of murder at Eporo Ekiti on December 10, 2021, said, “Consequently, the sole issue for determination is resolved in favour of the prosecution.
“On count one (Conspiracy), the defendant is sentenced to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine. Count two (murder), the sentence of this court upon Adedayo Olawole is that you shall be hanged by the neck until you be dead. May God have mercy on your soul”, the judge declared.