An Ado-Ekiti State High Court on Friday sentenced Joshua Akanbi to 15 years imprisonment for conspiracy and manslaughter during a communal clash.
Justice (Mrs) Oluwatoyin Abodunde, however, discharged and acquitted two brothers – Segun Ogundaisi and Abiodun Ogundaisi – who were charged along side Akanbi.
Abodunde held that the prosecutor failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt against the brothers.
She said that Akanbi was guilty of manslaughter under the Law, because he was found with a gun that caused the death of the deceased, Seyi Oladipupo.
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“The court adjudged that the evidence before it was not enough to charge the accused persons for murder under section 316 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2012 but for manslaughter under sections 319 and 325 of the Law.
“They are accordingly discharged and acquitted of murder case,’’ she said.
Akanbi, 52, Abiodun, 40 and Segun, 22 were facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.
Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, CPL Akinola Idowu told the court that the accused committed the offences on January 31, 2017 at Orisunmibare Farm in Ayede Ekiti of Oye Local Government Area.
Idowu said that the dispute was between the people of Itaji and Ayede in Ekiti state over the allegations of trespassing on each other’s land.
“An argument ensued when they met on the land. Some of them came with dangerous weapons such as guns, cutlass and the accused brought out a pump action gun.
“He said he had permission and was licensed to shoot any erring Ayede person who trespassed on their land.
“At first he shot in the air to show that it was not a joke. When Ayede people saw this, they started looking for a way to disarm him and it was at this stage that he shot Oladipupo.
“He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he later died,’’ he said.
The accused persons were arraigned on July 6, 2017 and they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor had called seven witnesses, tendered several exhibits which included, one pump action gun, photographs and videos at the scene of the incident, live cartridges and statements of the accused.
Counsel to the accused, Mr S. B Longe and Mr Adegboyega Falowo, also tendered photographs and statements they made to the police. (NAN)
