Four To Die By Hanging In Osun Over Abduction, Murder

An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo on Monday sentenced four men to death by hanging for offences bordering on armed robbery and murder of one Victor Akinbile, said to be a relative of the immediate past Osun State Deputy Governor, Mr. Benedict Alabi.

The convicts, Hammed Rafiu, 37; Rasidi Waidi, 39; Kayode Sunday, 29; and Owolabi Bashiru, 54; were first arraigned before Justice Jide Falola on October 23, 2019, on six counts of armed robbery and murder.

They had pleaded not guilty to the offenses.

Prosecution Counsel from the state Ministry of Justice, Dele Akintayo, while giving the facts of the case, said Akinbile had come to Osun on November 26, 2018, for the swearing-in ceremony of the former governor, Adeboyega Oyetola, and went to Ikirun to pass the night when he was abducted by the four men.

Akintayo informed the court that one of the defendants, Owolabi, a security guard working in a house opposite where the victim wanted to pass the night, informed others about his arrival.

He said the four men, armed with dangerous weapons, forcefully gained entrance into the victim’s room and demanded a sum of N10 million, adding that Akinbile eventually transferred N3 million to a bank account belonging to one of the assailants and also gave them the cash he had with him.

After collecting the money, the counsel said the four men locked the deceased in the trunk of his Toyota Camry and drove him to a spot along the Osogbo/Ikirun road, where they set the vehicle ablaze.

Ajibade and Adedayo Adedeji, who represented the defendants, had earlier told the court that there was no evidence to show that they held a meeting before they carried out the act.

In his judgment, Justice Falola said the prosecution’s counsel had proved his case beyond doubt and sentenced the four men to death by hanging.

He further held that the cash recovered from the convicts and the cash in their bank accounts should be handed over to the widow of the deceased.

He also said that none of the convicts should benefit from any state pardon due to the gravity of the offence they committed.