Justice Olukayode Ogundana of the Ekiti State High Court has sentenced a 42-year-old prince, Omoniyi Ademola, to death by hanging for killing Oba Gbadebo Ibitoye Olowoselu, the Onise of Odo-Oro Ekiti in lkole Local Government Area of the state.
The convict was arraigned on one count charge of murder contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.
According to the charge, ” Omoniyi Ademola on the 20th day of August, 2018 at Odo Oro Ekiti in Ikole Ekiti Judicial Division, murdered His Royal Majesty, Oba Gbadebo Ibitoye Olowoselu ll, the Onise of Odo-Oro Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.”
During trial, one of the chiefs who testified before the court said, ‘’We were at the palace on the fateful day for Onise-in-Council meeting. Around 7:00am, before the commencement of the meeting, Omoniyi Ademola entered the palace and sat on Kabiyesi’s seat but the chiefs frowned at his action and drove him away.
“After the meeting, late Onise in company of his male clerk were trekking back to the main palace. Ademola came out of his hiding and attacked Kabiyesi with a knife on the road and stabbed him to death. Before that day, he has been parading himself as the king of the town.”
To proof his case, the state counsel, Adegboyega Morakinyo, called five witnesses and tendered a medical report, statement of the convict, knife and rope, among others, as exhibits while the convict spoke in his own defence through his counsel, Tope Salami, who called no witness.
Delivering judgment, Justice Olukayode Ogundana dispelled the notion that the defendant had insanity and consequently pronounced the death verdict.
“The defendant, Omoniyi Ademola, is hereby sentenced to death and shall be hanged until he breathes his last. May the good Lord have mercy upon his soul,” he pronounced.