An Ado Ekiti State High Court on Monday sentenced an 18-year-old convict, Tajudeen Ogunleye, and his 21-year-old accomplice, Tosin Oluwafemi, to death by hanging for conspiracy, murder and unlawful possession of human skull.
According to the charge sheet, Ogunleye and Oluwafemi committed the offence on or about Feb. 14, 2017 at Ifaki Ekiti, where they conspired to murder one Joshua Ojo.
The charges were contrary to section 516, 316, 319 and section 329(a) of the Criminal Code Cap C16 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.
During trial, the prosecution counsel, Barrister Eniola Arogundade, called five witnesses while exhibits tendered included statements of the accused persons, photographs of one of the accused with the human head, and daily attendance register of St. Brigids Nursery and Primary School, Ifaki Ekiti, where one of the accused claimed to attend.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Stanley Okonkwo, led both of them in evidence with no witnesses.
Delivering her judgement, Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde said, “Every evil or good actions in life attracts consequences. In the accused persons case, their act has grave consequences.
”Therefore, for the offence of conspiracy, the accused persons are sentenced to 7 years imprisonment, and for the second count of murder is a death sentence.
“The first and second accused persons are hereby sentenced to death by hanging, and may the Lord have mercy on your souls.”
She also ruled that for unlawful possession of human skull, each of the accused is sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.