An Osun State High Court sitting in Ikirun, last Thursday, the sentenced two men to death by hanging for murder of a UniOsun final year student of the University of Osun, Miss. Rofiat Adebisi.
In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Jide Falola said the prosecution counsel proved his case beyond reasonable doubts against the convicts – Elijah Oyebode, 25, Yusuf Ajibade, 28, and Jelili Raji, 35.
But while the judge acquitted the second convict, Ajibade, of a two-count charge of murder and conspiracy, he convicted him on the third charge of receiving stolen property and sentenced him to two years imprisonment.
Justice Fakola then sentenced Oyebode and Raji to death by hanging.
Falola also ordered that the shrine where the deceased was murdered be forfeited to the state government.
It would be recalled that the convicts, who were first arraigned on Nov. 14, 2017, pleaded not guilty to three-count charge of conspiracy to commit murder, murder and stealing preferred against them.
However, the State Counsel, Mr Kareem Adekilekun, told the court that the defendants murdered one Miss Rofiat Adebisi, a 400-level student of Osun University, Ipetu-Ijesha, on Dec. 22 2016.
According to him, 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.
Adekilekun 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.
He added that on Dec. 23, 2016, the lifeless body of the deceased was found by the road side along Egbeda road in the state.
The state counsel noted that the convicts were arrested with help of the police through the iPhone 5 of the deceased, which was sold to Ajibade.
He revealed that Oyebode, in his confessional statement, said that Raji asked him to supply him a maid.
According to the prosecution counsel, a charm was given to Oyebode by Raji to charm any lady that he will bring and that such lady will be unconscious.
The state counsel added that Oyebode. In his confessional statement, said the charm was used against the deceased.
Adekilekun said Oyebode thereafter handed the deceased to Raji in his shrine and paid him N10,000.
He also told the court that the confessional statements of the three convicted persons were corroborated by the police, whose report showed that Oyebode had sex with deceased before taking her to Raji’s shrine.
Counsel to convicts, Mr Suleiman Bello, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
