An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one Adedayo Olawole to death by hanging over the murder of one Chukwudi Joseph.
The 29-year-old Olawole was also sentenced to seven years imprisonment for conspiracy in the murder of the deceased person.
He 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.”
A cousin to the deceased, in his testimony before the court, 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 and the deceased fell down and died before some people could get there for rescue.
The Prosecutor, Ibironke Odetola called six witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements, pictures of the deceased and other supporting documents as exhibits.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Jubril Aladejana, 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 declared “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.”
