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Tag: Ekiti State High Court

  • RTEAN member sentenced to death for killing colleague

    An Ekiti State High Court yesterday sentenced a member of the Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Abednego Ajibola, to death for killing his colleague over scuffle on loading arrangement.

    Justice Lekan Ogunmoye found Ajibola, 40, guilty of the one-count charge of murder of fellow union member, Ojo Ogunsakin, on March 10, 2017 at Akure Motor Park, along Ikere Road, Ado-Ekiti.

    The judge held that ingredients of the offence of murder have been established against the convict who, he said, committed an offence contrary to Section 316 of the Criminal Code Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

    According to his confessional statement made to the police, Ajibola said a disagreement ensued between him and the deceased on loading arrangement on the said date.

    The convict, in his statement, said he was slapped by the deceased, which provoked him to retaliate in the heat of the melee.

    Ajibola said he hit the deceased with a stone, which led to his death as confirmed by other witnesses.

    To prove the case of murder, prosecution counsel, Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola, called six witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Sgt. Kamaru Momoh.

    Other witnesses who testified against the convict are 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.

    Read also: Court remands businessman for alleged N218m ‘property scam’

    Defence counsel Mr. Kayode Oyeyemi called two witnesses and the accused person in defence of the convict.

    Delivering judgment, 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 till he be dead. May the Almighty God have mercy on your soul.”

     

  • Life jail: Man breaks court windows, stabs self in Ekiti

    There was drama at an Ekiti State High Court on Friday after one Ajewole Dada Fulani was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape.

    Ajewole, 24, was standing trial for robbing, kidnapping and raping two female students of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti on 7th November, 2015 along Ikere-Igbara Odo Road.

    The verdict was handed down by Justice John Adeyeye who held that the prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

    The convict became emotional, furious and restless after the judgment was interpreted to him by the court registrar.

    Ajewole thereafter hit the court window and broke the louvers and stabbed himself with it and attempted to stab other people inside the courtroom.

    It took the intervention of security personnel who grabbed the convict from wounding more people inside the court.

    He was subsequently handcuffed and bundled into a waiting Black Maria. Court workers, litigants and other observers were shocked by the convict’s bravado.

    Ajewole, on the day of the incident, conveyed the two College students in is commercial vehicle but diverted the vehicle to the bush, tied them to a tree and raped them one after the other.

    The victims later escaped from the scene and reported the incident at the Ikere Main Police Station along College Road.

    Ajewole was first arraigned at an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court but the case was transferred to the High Court after an advice from the office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    He appeared for the first time at the High Court on 16th November, 2016.

    To prove the case, the DPP, Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola, called four witnesses and tendered exhibits which included the accused’s statement and his vehicle with registration number EMR 218 XA.

    The accused called two witnesses to support his denial of the offence.

    The court after listening to the oral argument of Adaramola and defence counsel, Sunday Ochayi

    Justice Adeyeye ruled: “The prosecution has not proved the essential ingredients of the offence of robbery against the accused.

    “In conclusion and for the avoidance of doubt, the accused was found guilty of the offences of kidnapping and rape as charged in Counts 1,2 and 3 and he is accordingly convicted to life imprisonment.”

    Read Also: Man, 35, bags life jail for defiling girl, 8

  • Man to die by hanging for murder, armed robbery in Ekiti

    Man to die by hanging for murder, armed robbery in Ekiti

    An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Friday has sentenced one Kolawole Oluwasola to death by hanging.

    Kolawole, a middle-aged man, bagged the sentence over robbery and murder case which was established that he committed on the April 13, 2016 at Sabo area, Aramoko-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area of the state.

    He was charged for stabbing one Yahaya Sumaila with a knife and also strangulated him to death.

    Kolawole was also docked for snatching the victim’s motorcycle after which he fled to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Nemesis however caught on him as the police interceded him on the suspicion of the motorcycle and arrested him.

    The Court said during investigation, the defendant made a confessional statement to the crime and took the team of policemen to the scene of the crime where the rotten body of Ismaila was found.

    The State Counsel, Mrs Bunmi Ajumobi called six witnesses to prove her case beyond reasonable doubt while the counsel for the defendant, Mrs Amina Baderinwa also called the defendant who gave evidence in his own case.

    The court held that the offence of Armed Robbery and Murder are both punishable with death upon conviction.

    Justice John Adeyeye said that the defendant will pay the supreme price prescribed for the commission of the offense of murder and armed robbery.

    The presiding Judge affirmed that the court had listened to the evidence of prosecution witnesses as well as evidence of the defendant.

    Justice Adeyeye held that State counsel has however proved the case of Murder and Armed Robbery beyond reasonable doubt.

    He therefore condemned Kolawole to death by hanging.

  • Ekiti Boundary Dispute:  Three murder suspects granted bail

    Ekiti Boundary Dispute:  Three murder suspects granted bail

    An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has granted bail to three suspects accused of murder during the riot that trailed the boundary dispute between Ayede and Itaji communities in Oye Local Government Area on January 31.

    The three suspects: Joshua Akanbi, Abiodun Ogundaisi and Segun Ogundaisi were alleged to have murdered one Seyi Oladipo during the battle between the two communities for the control of Orisunmibare farm settlement.

    At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Justice Monisola Abodunde admitted the three suspects to bail in the sum of N500, 000 and one surety each.

    The application for bail for the accused persons was filed and moved by their counsel, Mr. Sule Longe.

    Each of the surety, the judge ruled, must be a community leader, a title holder who must deposit his Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).

    She held that the suspects must sign an undertaking to maintain peace throughout the period of the trial stressing that the court will not hesitate to revoke the bail if they cause trouble again.

    Justice Abodunde said the court exercised the right to grant them accused bail because of the health condition of the first defendant (Akanbi) who is receiving treatment from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti on account of multiple injuries sustained during
    the communal clash.

    Before the ruling was delivered, prosecution counsel, Mr. Adebayo Arogundade, applied to amend the charge filed against the accused persons which was granted by the court.

    The accused persons are standing trial on two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.

    Arogundade also told the court that of his readiness to call ten witnesses to give evidence in the case and prayed for a short date to assemble the witnesses.

    The court adjourned the case to 6th and 7th of November for definite hearing.

  • Man jailed 14 years for raping 12-year-old girl

    Man jailed 14 years for raping 12-year-old girl

    An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a 35-year-old Olowo Ismaila to fourteen-year imprisonment for raping a 12-year old girl.

    Justice Bamidele Omotoso who slammed the verdict on the convict on Thursday held that the prosecution has proved the case against him beyond reasonable doubt.

    Omotoso held that evidence before the court including the medical report, statement volunteered by the convict to the police and the cloth worn by the victim on the day of the incident indicted Ismaila.

    The judge ruled that Ismaila’s sentence would start counting from 14th April, 2016 when he was first incarcerated for the offence.

    The convict committed the crime on 1st February, 2016 at Awolowo Street, Iluomoba-Ekiti, Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

    The prosecution counsel, Mr. Akinola Abon, called witnesses and tendered evidence to secure Ismaila’s conviction while the convict testified in his own defence during trial.

    Abon commended the judgment which he said would send a strong signal against all forms of sexual violence in the state.

    Defence counsel, Mr. Babatunde Falade, said he would consult with his client on the possibility of appealing against the judgment.

  • Armed Robbery: Court sentences 19-year-old to death

    Armed Robbery: Court sentences 19-year-old to death

    An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday sentenced a 19-year-old man, Adeolu Bamiteko, to death after he was found guilty of armed robbery.

    Bamiteko also bagged an imprisonment of 10 years for the offence of unlawful possession of firearms.

    Justice John Adeyeye held that the accused was guilty as charged having committed the offence contrary to Section 6(b) of Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R11 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    Bamiteko was arrested and arraigned alongside a 12-year-old boy, Ayobami Ojo but the latter was discharged by the court having been an underage person in line with Section 30 of the Criminal Code.

    He was arraigned on three counts charge of conspiracy, robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.

    According to the charge sheet, the accused robbed one Adefunke Amire of her Nokia phone at a location near the Ewi’s Palace in Ado-Ekiti on 14th July, 2016 while armed with offensive weapons like a locally-made pistol with live cartridge and one knife.

    The accused was first arraigned in court on 16th February, 2017 and he pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution called three witnesses to prove the case while the accused did not call any witness.

    During the pendency of the case, exhibits such as the accused’s statement volunteered to the police, items stolen from the victim, weapons found on the accused and a golden wristwatch which were tendered and admitted.

    Justice Adeyeye held: “The court hereby discharge the 1st defendant (Ojo) pursuant to Section 30 of the Criminal Code. But the 2nd defendant (Bamiteko) is found guilty of armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearm as contained in Counts One to three and he is accordingly convicted.

    “On Count Two, the sentence of armed robbery is mandatory in respect of which I have no discretion. Therefore, the 2nd defendant is sentenced to death by hanging until he be dead. May the Lord have mercy on your soul.

    “On Count Three, the 2nd defendant is sentenced to ten years imprisonment; both sentences are to run concurrently.”

  • Vice Principal bags life jail for raping 12-year-old pupil

    Vice Principal bags life jail for raping 12-year-old pupil

    An Ekiti State High Court has sentenced former Vice Principal of St. Mary’s Girls Grammar School, Ikole-Ekiti, Taiwo Ajayi, to life imprisonment for raping a 12-year-old student (name withheld).

    The court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, found Ajayi guilty of raping a minor contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child Rights Law of Ekiti State 2012. The convict was the Vice Principal (Academics) at the time he committed the offence on March 18, 2014.

    Ajayi lured the girl into his office, locked the door from behind and raped her on the table while blocking her mouth with a cloth. One of the teachers locked the door but the convict refused to open the door and threatened her not to tell anybody.

    Two teachers stormed the victim’s office finding the door locked but gained entrance after about 30 minutes and discovered the shock find of the vice principal having carnal knowledge of the girl.

    Justice Monisola Abodunde held that the prosecution had proved the case beyond every reasonable doubt on the strength of evidence placed before the court.

    The prosecution was led by Mr. A.E. Arogundade of the Ministry of Justice while the defence was led by Mr. Sule Longe. The convict was first arraigned in court on October 14, 2016 and he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    In delivering the judgment, Justice Abodunde rejected the convict’s counsel’s plea for leniency on grounds that his client is a first offender, father and breadwinner of an aged mother.

    Justice Abodunde held: “The cases of child dfilement has been on the increase lately and to serve as a deterrent to others, my view is that the punishment stipulated by the lawmakers was deliberate to deter the offence and protect the right to dignity of the child.

    “The defence counsel is pleading for leniency and praying for fine instrad of the due punishment. My question is: who pays the victim for the lifetime scar of the trauma and torture of rape.

    “I am unable to deviate from the provisions of the law in this instant. The defendant is found guilty as charged and sentenced to life imprisonment.”

    The prosecution called eight witnesses including a medical practitioner from the State University Teaching Hospital, police officers who investigated the case, two other pupils and a teacher in
    the school.

    Exhibits tendered include a medical report, statement of the accused, report of the panels set up by the school authorities and Teaching Service Commission, medical report from the police clinic, statement of the victim, among others.

    The two panels set up to investigate the matter indicted Ajayi which led to his suspension from service after which he was arrested and arraigned to face the charge.

  • Aderiye murder: Court threatens to close prosecution’s case over delay

    Aderiye murder: Court threatens to close prosecution’s case over delay

    An Ekiti State High Court hearing the case of murder of former National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman Chief Omolafe Aderiye has given prosecution till July 7 to bring the remaining four witnesses to give evidence or have its case closed.

    Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye in a ruling at the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday ordered that the remaining four witnesses lined up to testify must appear as that would be the last adjournment for the prosecution to close its case.

    Eight persons standing trial over alleged complicity in the murder are Adebayo Aderiye, Adeniyi Adedipe, Sola Durodola, Ajayi Kayode, Oso Farotimi, Sola Adenijo and Rotimi Olanbiwonnu who have been incarcerated in Ado-Ekiti prisons for the past three years.

    The former NURTW boss was murdered on September 25, 2014 at his private motor park located in Ijigbo area of Ado-Ekiti.

    Prosecution counsel Mr. Ahmed Tafa had claimed that one of the witnesses was attacked by unknown persons hence his inability to appear in court to testify. Tafa, however, did not disclose the identity of the witness allegedly attacked.

    Tafa argued that the court can grant an adjournment when there is a good reason for a witness not to appear most especially when some witness’ life is under threat.

    Defence counsel Chief Anthony Adeniyi opposed Tafa’s request for adjournment maintaining that the prosecution must disclose the identity of the witness allegedly attacked and also substantiate the claim with police report, medical report and other proofs.

    Buttressing his argument with the provision of Section 251 of Ekiti State Administration Criminal Justice Law 2014, Adeniyi said the defence must have the foreknowledge of witnesses coming to give evidence adding that his clients have been in custody for three years and the court has the power to close the case of the prosecution if it is not ready to go ahead with the matter.

    Adeniyi added: “The court in the alternative can grant the accused persons bail; we have been to the Court of Appeal which ruled in their favour. In fact, they have shown lackadaisical tardiness in respect of this case.

    Justice Ogunmoye in the ruling stressed that the prosecution counsel had not done enough to ensure that the case went ahead by bringing his witnesses saying “if he (Tafa) had done the needful, the matter would have proceed.”

    The judge said: “I will grant the prosecution one more adjournment; however, if the witnesses are not available at the next adjourned date, he (Tafa) might be forced to close his case.”

  • Driver jailed seven years for raping 80-year-old woman

    Driver jailed seven years for raping 80-year-old woman

    An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 45-year-old commercial driver, Lawrence Adedapo, to seven years imprisonment for raping 80-year-old women, Mrs. Grace Asaolu.

    Justice Bamidele Omotoso who convicted Adedapo held that evidence before the court showed that the driver forcefully had a carnal knowledge of the old woman and was guilty as charged.

    Apart from the confessional statement of the convict and the victim, the prosecution also tendered in evidence the blood-stained clothes of the old woman in proving the case beyond the reasonable doubt.

    The convict who plied his trade in Otun Ekiti sexually assaulted the octogenarian on 7th November, 2017 at Oke Erimope Street, Ogbese via Ise-Ekiti and was subsequently charged to court.

    In the course of the trial, Adedapo pleaded not guilty to the charge and gave evidence in his own defence but called no witness.

    In his testimony, Adedapo who described the old woman as his “mother as well as his concubine” whom he has been dating as far back as his bachelor years claimed that Mrs. Asaolu framed him up.

    He claimed that the old woman had earlier approached him for a sum of money to travel to her village but on that date, she walked into his room and demanded for the money.

    The driver claimed that the old woman started romancing him which eventually led to a sexual intercourse after he had given her N1, 000.

    The prosecution led by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi, gave evidence that the convict confessed to have been dating the woman before the incident and that she consented to the sexual intercourse.

    Ajayi tendered the blood-stained clothes of the victim which was recovered from the scene of the incident.

    Among issues for determination raised for determination by the court include whether upon the totality of evidence before it, the prosecution proved the offence of rape against the defendant as required by law to warrant conviction.

    And whether the convict can be let off the hook by his claim that the sexual intercourse occurred between because they were lovers.

    The trial judge resolved the issues against Adedapo and consequently sentenced him to a jail term of seven years for unlawfully carnal knowledge of the old woman.