In a recent ruling, the Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has handed down a death sentence by hanging to 29-year-old Adedayo Olawole for the murder of Chukwudi Joseph. The court also sentenced Olawole to seven years imprisonment for his involvement in the conspiracy leading to the murder.
Olawole was brought to trial to charges of conspiracy and murder. The court found him guilty based on the evidence presented, which included eyewitness testimonies and exhibits such as the defendant’s statements, pictures of the deceased, and other supporting documents.
According to one of the eyewitnesses, who happened to be a cousin of the deceased, he saw Olawole and several other individuals strike Joseph with planks. Subsequently, one of the members of Olawole’s gang stabbed Joseph in the left side of his chest, resulting in his death before help could arrive.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Jubril Aladejana stated that the assailants’ actions of assaulting Joseph with planks and then stabbing him in the chest demonstrated their intention to cause him serious bodily harm or death. The judge concluded that the prosecution had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Olawole and others conspired to commit the murder.
Justice Aladejana handed down a seven-year prison sentence without the option of a fine for the count of conspiracy. For the charge of murder, Olawole was sentenced to be hanged by the neck until death. The judge concluded the ruling by expressing a hope for mercy upon Olawole’s soul.
The court’s decision serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in criminal activities and the importance of upholding the rule of law in society.
