The Osun State High Court in Ile-Ife sentenced three individuals to death on Tuesday for the murder of Adebayo Mukaila, a corps member, in Osogbo, the state capital.
On January 28, 2020, in the Omo-West area, the convicts robbed and murdered Mukaila, who was a recharge card vendor, at his shop in the presence of his daughter.
Initially arraigned with a vulcanizer, Anifowose Biliaminu, who had purchased a stolen recharge card, the defendants pleaded not guilty. The arraignment took place on October 8, 2020, before Justice Adedapo Adeniji at the Osun State High Court.
The defendants faced six charges, including conspiracy, armed robbery, illegal possession, and murder.
During the trial, prosecutor Muyiwa Ogunleye from the Ministry of Justice presented four witnesses: the deceased’s 10-year-old daughter, his elder brother, a pathologist, and the Investigative Police Officer (IPO). He argued that the convicts conspired to rob and kill Mukaila, taking his phone, recharge cards, and other valuables. Biliaminu was charged with receiving a stolen recharge card, violating sections 316, 319, and 324 of the Criminal Code Law Cap.34, Vol. 2. Laws of State, 2002, and Section 27 of the Robbery and Firearms Act Cap R11, LFN 2004.
The prosecutor submitted the deceased’s autopsy report and the murder weapon as exhibits.
Defense counsels Shina Olaniyan, Folashade Ipede, and Suleiman Akano argued that the prosecution failed to prove the charges of murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms.
In his judgment, Justice Adeniji determined that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, he sentenced the three convicts to death and acquitted Anifowose Biliaminu of receiving stolen recharge cards.
