An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure today Friday sentenced three out or four persons that killed Olufunke Olakuri, daughter of Afenifere Leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti to death by hanging.
The Trial Judge, Justice William Olamide however discharged and acquitted one of the accused who is the public relations officer of Miyetti Allah, Auwàla Abubakar.
Mrs Olakunri was killed in July 12, 2019 along Ore/Ijebu-Ode road in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State when she was on her way from Akure to Lagos to attend a social function while her driver, Femi Ajayi, was kidnapped and spent seven days in the captivity of the kidnapper.
She was buried few weeks after her gruesome murder.
Her alleged killers were later arrested and arraigned, six months after her death.
The same convicts also attacked and killed Matthew Ogunbiyi, a hunter in the forest while they also took a hostage, a German-Nigerian who was released after the payment of ransom.
The state government through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Titiloye had preferred eight-count charge against four suspects. The charges included murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, aiding and abetting.
The first to three suspects were charged with murder contrary to Section 316 and punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code CAP 37 Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State, Nigeria, 2006.
There were also charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery and actual commission of armed robbery contrary to Section 1 (2a&b) for the Robbery and Firearm Special Prohibition Act CAP R11, Volume 14, Laws of the Federation.
Besides, they were charged with conspiracy to commit felony to wit kidnapping, contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of Criminal Code CAP 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State.
The culprits pleaded not guilty to the eight charge counts preferred against them. In their evidence before the court, the suspects said they were not part of the kidnapping gang that killed Olakunri, saying the police extracted false evidence against them.
Usman said he was a driver who was on transit to Ondo State from Agbor, Delta State when he was arrested with N500,000 cash and expired drivers’ license, and was charged because he could provide the bribed demanded by the police.
For Lawal, he said, he was arrested by the police because he followed Usman to the police station because he understands Hausa language. He denied complicity in the murder of the Afenifere leader’s daughter.
However, in his verdict, Justice Olamide faulted the claims of the suspects and on the ground that their evidences were afterthought to escape the wrath of the law.
The Court said the prosecution was able to prove the case of conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and aiding a.nd abetting against the first to third defendants. He consequently onvicted them on the eight count charges while he discharged the fourth suspect, Awalu Abubakar for conspiracy, aiding and abetting
On the charge of murder, Justice Olamide said the convicts are to die either by hanging or by firing squad, while they were to spend the remaining part of their lives in prison for the offence of kidnapping.
The trial judge commiserated with the family of the victim and ask the government to urgently do something about cases of rape, kidnapping and murder which has become the order of the day in different parts of the country.
