Court sentences NURTW chairman to death by hanging

The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Boundary/Ayetoro unit in Lagos identified as Saheed Arogundade will die by hanging for killing a police officer.

The fate of Saheed was decided by Justice Olabisi Akinlade of the Lagos State High Court, on Wednesday who convicted him after he was found guilty of conspiracy and murder of the officer, Gbenga Oladipupo.

He was charged alongside five others identified as Mustapha Layeni, Adebayo Abdullahi, Seyi Pabiekun, Sikiru Rufai and Yusuf Arogundade on two counts of conspiracy and murder.

Police report, says the deceased was killed by Saheed and his gang on April 10, 2010, around 8am at the Gbara junction in the Ayetoro area of Ajegunle, Lagos, while Gbenga was on his way to visit his mother on Olayinka Street in the Ayetoro area.

Sources say Saheed and cohorts decided to take the life of the policeman who encouraged the operation of tricycles in the area- a move Saheed and his gang members reckon will reduce the income coming into the coffers of the NURTW.

Recounting the incident in court, the second prosecution witness, Ismaila Lukman who was the motorcycle rider conveying Gbenga at the time of the murder said the victim was dragged down from the motorcycle by his assailants.

Lukman said, “The deceased had called me for a ride to his mother’s house when four men approached us and dragged him down.

Read also: Police arrests man who beat wife to death over allegations of infidelity

“One of them, Saheed, brought out a knife and stabbed him in the back. I ran off to seek help from other motorcyclists, but when I returned, I saw the other three men hitting the deceased with their fists.

“I couldn’t see the faces of the other men clearly because I was gazing at Saheed, who stabbed the victim. When I got close to the deceased, I realised that he had been badly stabbed all over his body and was bleeding profusely.”

In her judgement, Justice Olabisi Akinlade held that the prosecution was not able to prove its case against the other defendants noting that the evidence of the sixth prosecution witness could not be used to convict the second to the sixth defendants.

She said, “The PW6 was not directly at the scene of crime but was standing in front of his house and the object that he described as being used by the assailants on the deceased was different from the weapon described by the pathologist.

“The PW6 claimed that it was a machete used in stabbing the deceased; so, I hereby rule that the PW6 is not a reliable witness. The only evidence the court will rely on is that of the PW2, whose evidence was cogent and convincing.

“The evidence of the PW6 is not sufficient to convict the defendants; the court believes he was not being truthful. The police did not conduct a serious investigation to determine if the fifth and sixth defendants were at the scene of the crime.

“I hereby acquit and discharge the second to the sixth defendants in respect of the charges.”

However, she held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt proved  that Saheed killed the officer.

She said, “The prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the first defendant killed Gbenga Oladipupo. The first defendant did not act alone, but since the PW2 did not recognise the second to the sixth defendants, they are acquitted of the two counts.

“The prosecution has been able to prove beyond reasonable doubt the ingredients of conspiracy and murder against the first defendant; therefore, I pronounce that the first defendant is guilty as charged.

“I hereby pronounce the sentence of the court upon you, Saheed Arogundade, that you will be hanged in the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now