Kehinde Adewole, Ado Ekiti
A commercial driver and member of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RETAN), Abednego Ajibola, has been sentenced to death by hanging for killing his colleague over loading disagreement.
An Ado-Ekiti High Court, presided over by Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, on Tuesday, passed the death sentence on Ajibola for causing the death of one Ojo Ogunsakin at Akure Garage along Ikere Road in Ado Ekiti on March 10, 2017.
Justice Ogunmoye held that evidence before the court found Ajibola (40) guilty of killing Ogunsakin (42) contrary to Section 316 of Criminal Code Cap C16 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.
In his confessional statement volunteered to the Police, Ajibola said a brawl broke out between him and deceased on loading arrangement on the said date.
According to Ajibola, he was slapped by the deceased which provoked him to retaliate by attacking Ogunsakin with a stone which led to his death as confirmed by other witnesses.
Prosecution counsel, Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola, called six witnesses including the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Sgt. Kamaru Momoh, the wife of the deceased, Mrs. Ogunsakin and Dr. J.A. Omotayo of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), who conducted the post mortem on the body of the deceased.
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In the defence of the convict, his counsel, Mr. Kayode Oyeyemi, called two witnesses and the accused person to convince the court of his innocence.
Justice Ogunmoye ruled: “The ingredients of the offence of murder had been established against the accused person and he is convicted accordingly.
“The accused person is hereby sentenced to death by hanging on the neck till he be dead. May the Almighty God have mercy on your soul.”