Six To Die By Hanging For Killing Ex Osun Dep Gov. Cousin, Okada Rider

 An Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo, on Monday, sentenced four men to death by hanging for killing one Victor Akinbile, a relative of the immediate past deputy governor of Osun State, Mr. Benedict Alabi. 

The Convicts were Hammed Rafiu, 37, Rasidi Waidi, 39, Kayode Sunday, 29, and Owolabi Bashiru, 54, a security guard, who was arraigned before the Court on the 23rd day of October, 2019 on six counts charges.

Speaking in court, prosecution Counsel, Dele Akintayo, of the State Ministry of Justice, said the four men gang murdered one Victor Akinbile, a cousin of the former Deputy Governor of the state, Adegboyega Benedict Alabi.

He said the victim came to Ikirun, Osun State on the 26th day of November, 2018 for the swearing-in ceremony of former governor, Gboyega Oyetola, where he met his untimely death. 

Akintayo informed the court that one of the convicts, Owolabi Bashiru, a security guard opposite where the victim was staying, informed the others about his arrival. 

He said the convicts, armed with dangerous weapons, forcefully gained entrance into the victim's room and demanded the sum of Ten million Naira from him.  

He said the victim transferred a sum of Three Million Naira in his account to Hammed Rafiu Bank account in United Bank for Africa (UBA) and gave them the cash with him. 

The prosecutor said, the convicts, after collecting the money, locked him in his Toyota Camry car boot and drove him to Dominion Camp area, old Iragbiji road along Ikirun/Osogbo road where the vehicle was set ablazed.

Counsel to the convicts, S.B Ajibade and Adedayo Adedeji had earlier told the court that there was no evidence to show that the accused persons held a meeting before the robbery incident,and urged the court to discharge and acquit the accused.

In his ruling, Justice Jide Falola said the prosecution Counsel has proven his case beyond any reason ble doubt and sentenced them to death. 

He further ruled that all the cash recovered from the convicts and cash in their Bank accounts should be handed over to the wife of the deceased,with the recommendation that none of the convicts should benefit from any State pardon, such as perogative of mercy and any other of such.

Similarly, Justice Falola sentenced two men, Mutiu Azeez (a.k.a Tompolo) 41, and Afolabi Mayowa, 35, to death by hanging for Armed Robbery and murder.

Prosecution Counsel,  Dele Akintayo told the Court that the convicts on the 1st day of July, 2018, between 6.00 am and 7.00 am, took a bike and told the bike man to take them to Egbeda. 

The bike man Olatokun Mayowa, an indigene of Iragbiji, according to a witness called by the Prosecution Counsel, was conveying the convicts to the agreed destination when he was suddenly stopped along the roadside and dragged inside the bush where he was murdered and his bike taken away by the convicts. 

Justice Jide Falola in his judgement, found the convicts guilty and sentenced them to death by hanging.