Justice Jide Falola of an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo on Monday sentenced six persons to death by hanging over murder and armed robbery. The convicts, Hammed Rafiu, 37, Rasidi Waidi, 39, Kayode Sunday, 29, and Owolabi Bashiru, 54, a security guard are facing six counts charge including setting ablaze the cousin of former Osun state deputy governor, Benedict Alabi after compelling him to transfer the sum of N3 million Naira into Rafiu’s account. They were also docked for conspiracy to commit murder, stealing, kidnapping, and armed robbery contrary to sections 6(b), section 1(1), and (2) (a) (b), of the Robbery and Firearms (special provisions) Act, Cap R11, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 324, 319, 390(9) and 364 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
According to prosecution counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Dele Akintayo, the four-man gang murdered one Victor Akinbile a cousin of Mr. Alabi who traveled down to Ikirun, Osun State on November 26, 2018.
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 co-conspirators 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.
The counsel added that after collecting the money, the four 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.
Hammed Rafiu and Rashidi Waidi were arrested at Ogijo in Ogun State, Kaode Sunday in Ondo State, while Owolabi Bashiru was nabbed in Ikirun.
During trial, prosecution counsel called four witnesses and tendered several exhibits to prove his case while the convicts testified for themselves.
Counsel to Owolabi Bashiru, fourth accused person, S. Ajibade and Adedayo Adedeji, who represented the other defendants 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 judgment, Justice Falola disagreed and held that the prosecution has proved his case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the defendants on all the charges against them.
He further held that the cash recovered from the convicts and the cast 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.
