Man gets death sentence for killing youth leader in Ondo

By Boye Oyeyemi

An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced a 32-year-old man, Toba Adeyemi, to death by hanging for the murder of a youth leader, Michael Alademomi, popularly known as “Eko.”

Adeyemi was arraigned before the court in October 2021 on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and murder in Charge No. AK/58C/2021 following the killing of the victim during a violent supremacy clash in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Delivering judgment, Justice Yemi Fasanmi held that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that the evidence presented before the court was credible, convincing and consistent.

“I hereby sentence the defendant to 14 years’ imprisonment on the count of conspiracy and to death by hanging for the offence of murder, having been found guilty under the law,” Justice Fasanmi ruled.

The court heard that the offence was committed on May 1, 2021, at No. 50B, Fadeyi Street in the Oshinle area of Akure, where the convict and several accomplices still at large allegedly attacked the deceased.

Prosecuting counsel, D.G. Kayode, told the court that Adeyemi arrived at the victim’s residence at about 5 p.m. with about eight men on motorcycles. According to a prosecution witness, the defendant identified Alademomi and ordered his associates to attack him before one of the assailants stabbed the victim in the neck.

“The deceased ran into the house shouting for help while bleeding heavily from the neck wound inflicted during the attack,” the witness said, adding that Alademomi later died at the hospital due to excessive loss of blood.

Although defence counsel, Fortune Falade, argued that there was no direct evidence linking Adeyemi to the fatal stabbing, the court held that the totality of the evidence, including witness testimonies and the defendant’s extra-judicial statement, clearly established his involvement in mobilising the attackers that carried out the killing.