The Akure Division of the Ondo State High Court has sentenced a 21-year-old houseboy, Emmanuel Akpan, to death by hanging for killing his employer, Febisola Caroline Adedayo.
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The trial judge, Rotimi Olamide, delivered the judgment on Wednesday in a case marked AK/57C/2022.
Mr Akpan was found guilty of murder, while his co-defendant, Goodness James Akpe, was discharged and acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence linking him to the crime.
The Ondo State government, through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, had arraigned the defendants on two counts of conspiracy and murder under Sections 324, 316 and 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
The prosecution said the incident occurred on 29 March 2021 at Ifakanbale Street in the Sabo area of Ondo town, where the victim, a food vendor, was attacked in her residence.
During the trial, prosecuting counsel Olubunmi Koyenikan, represented by Abimbola Ayodele and Ifedamola Adaramola, told the court that the defendants conspired to kill Mrs Adedayo.
They said Mr Akpan inflicted fatal machete cuts on the victim, leading to her death.
The court heard that the suspects allegedly carried out the attack after learning that the victim had money in her home.
They also attempted to cover up the crime by setting the house on fire to make it appear as a gas explosion.
In his judgment, Mr Olamide held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against Mr Akpan.
He said the testimonies of witnesses were credible and consistent and were not shaken during cross-examination.
The judge also relied on the confessional statements of the defendants in reaching his decision.
He dismissed the denial by the defendants, noting that their claims were contradicted by evidence before the court.
Mr Olamide described the act as “cruel and inhuman,” adding that it was particularly disturbing because the deceased had previously assisted the defendants.
The court, however, ruled that there was no direct evidence linking Mr Akpe to the killing and consequently acquitted him.
Pronouncing the sentence, the judge said Mr Akpan should “be hanged by the neck until you be dead.”
The police had arrested the defendants in March 2021 following the incident.
Investigators said the suspects stole valuables, including ATM cards, phones and a generator, before attempting to destroy evidence by setting the house on fire.
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