By Wilson Adekumola
A man identified as Ismailia Mohammed Ojo was sentenced to death by hanging by Ekiti High Court for killing one Kareem Adu over ownership of an Hajue Motorcycle.
Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi found Mohammed guilty of a one-count charge of murder.
The offense was said to be contrary to section 316 and punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C16 Law of Ekiti State 2012.
The Prosecution Witness1 (PW1), Inspector Arowosola Tunde, had earlier reported that one Mrs. Agnes Adu rushed to the station with the complaint that her husband had been killed at Odo-Uro by Mohammed over an ownership argument and physical clash over possession of an Hajue motorcycle.
She alleged that the defendant had strangled the deceased to death.
The incident was charged to court for prosecution, having cited evidence of the possible commission of the crime, given that the defendant came to the state C.I.D. to report himself in respect of the case.
In separate Police’ and C.I.D’s preliminary investigations carried out by Inspectors Arowosola Tunde, Lasisi Bashiru, and Adewusi Adefisayo, facts figures showed that the suspect was guilty as charged.
According to the judgment, ”the PW2, (i.e. Inspector Lasis Bashiru, A.P. Number 237442 of the state C.I.D., Ado Ekiti, Homicide Section), said: “the Defendant confessed to the crime, that on 13/5/2018 when he was taking his bath inside a bathroom, Kareem Adu, the deceased, came to carry a motorcycle which he parked in front of his house.”
”The Defendant added that, after his bath, he went to the house of the deceased and met him asleep, then jerked him with his cloth on his neck till he fell unconscious.
The Defendant, however, claimed that he did not deliberately cause the deceased’s death as the duo fought without any weapon or hard object.
While adjudicating the matter, the trial Judge, Justice O.I.O. Ogunyemi, carefully considered and weighed the evidence before the court by the Prosecution Witnesses and that of the defendant, sentenced the defendant to death by hanging.
The Judge said, “It is my finding that the defendant caused the death of the deceased by holding and pressing his neck and throat.
“On the whole, I find the defendant guilty as charged.
”The defendant is hereby sentenced to be hanged on the neck until you die.”
