Court sentences three artisans to death by hanging in Kwara

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

A Kwara State High Court, presided over by Justice Adebayo Yusuf, on Thursday sentenced three artisans to death by hanging for causing the death of Saheed Lawal, a fellow artisan in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The convicts—Isiaka Jimoh, Lekan Ahmed, and Adebayo Saheed—were mechanics in the Amuyo area of Offa. The court found them guilty of causing the death of Saheed Lawal and sentenced them to death by hanging.

The Kwara State Ministry of Justice prosecuted the three artisans for the incident, which occurred on November 5, 2020, at a mechanic workshop near Government Day Secondary School, Amuyo, Offa.

The trio were tried on a four-count charge filed before the court on February 9, 2022, by the Kwara State Director of Public Prosecutions, Ayoola Akande.

They were charged with conspiracy and culpable homicide, punishable by death.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants conspired to commit culpable homicide under Section 221 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State.

They were also accused of attempting to commit culpable homicide by pouring hot red pepper into the ears of another artisan, Hamzat Ibrahim, at the same workshop.

The first, second, and third defendants were represented by Barr. Bodunrin Adewole, Dr. A. S. Ishola, and Prince J. O. Ijaodola, respectively.

Delivering judgment, Justice Yusuf, who sat at High Court No. 8, Kwara State High Court premises, GRA, Ilorin, noted that the prosecution called eight witnesses, while the defendants testified in their defense and called three additional witnesses.

The court heard that on the day of the incident, Saheed Lawal, a motor mechanic, was accused by the first and second convicts, Isiaka Jimoh and Lekan Ahmed, of stealing motor oil.

“They, along with the third convict, Adebayo Saheed (also known as Eje), tortured Lawal until he lost consciousness,” a witness told the court.

Dr. O. M. Abdulsalam, Chief Medical Director of the State General Hospital, Offa, and a prosecution witness, testified that Saheed was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital after a series of medical examinations.

In his judgment, Justice Yusuf stated that the evidence before the court proved beyond reasonable doubt that the three defendants were responsible for Saheed Lawal’s death.

“I found the prosecution witnesses credible and was convinced beyond reasonable doubt of the defendants’ responsibility for the death of Saheed Lawal.”

He then sentenced the three defendants to death by hanging.

“Consequently, the three defendants were found guilty of the charges against them and sentenced to death by hanging. May God have mercy on them,” Justice Yusuf ruled.