Court sentences two men to death for killing varsity student

Justice Jide Falola of Osun High Court sitting in Ikirun Thursday sentenced two men to death by hanging for murder.

Falola, in his judgement, said the prosecution counsel proved his case against the convicts – Elijah Oyebode, 25, Yusuf Ajibade, 28, and Jelili Raji, 35 – beyond reasonable doubt.

He, however, acquitted the second convict, Ajibade, of a two-count charge of murder and conspiracy but convicted him on the third count charge of receiving stolen property.

The judge sentenced him to two years imprisonment, while Oyebode and Raji were sentenced to death by hanging.

He also said that the shrine where the deceased was murdered be forfeited to the state government.

The convicts, who were first arraigned on November 14, 2017, pleaded not guilty to three-count-charge of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and stealing preferred against them.

The state Counsel, Mr. Kareem Adekilekun, had earlier told the court that the defendants murdered one Miss Rofiat Adebisi, a 400-level student of Osun University, Ipetu-Ijesha, on December 22, 2016.

Adekilekun said the offences were contrary to Sections 324 and 316, and punishable under Sections 319 and 322 of the Criminal Code Cap.3 Law of Osun, 2002, respectively.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Lagos govt shuts Agege Central Mosque over attack on Taskforce officials

The prosecution counsel told the court that on that fateful day, the deceased boarded a golf car with Lagos number plate FKJ 636 DL, driven by the first convict, Oyebode.

Adekilekun further told the court that on December 23, 2016, the lifeless body of the deceased was found by the road side along Egbeda Road in the state.

He said the convicts were arrested with the help of the police through the iPhone 5 of the deceased, which was sold to Ajibade.

“Oyebode, in his confessional statement, said that Raji asked him to supply him a maid,” the counsel told the court.

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