An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced three persons to death by hanging over the killing of Mrs Funke Olakuri, daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
Those convicted were Muhammed Shehu Usman, Mazaje Lawal and Adamu Adamu.
A fourth suspect, Awalu Abubakar, who was docked for conspiracy, aiding and abetting, was discharged and acquitted.
Abubakar is the spokesman for the Miyetti Allah.
Mrs Olakunri was killed in July 12, 2019 along Ore/Ijebu-Ode highway in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
She was on her way from Akure to Lagos to attend a social function when she was shot dead.
Her driver, Femi Ajayi, was kidnapped and later freed after spending seven days in the kidnapper’s den.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir Charles Titiloye preferred eight count charges against the four suspects bothering on murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, aiding and abetting.
The culprits however pleaded not guilty to the eight charge counts preferred against them.
They said they were not part of the kidnapping gang that killed Olakunri and accused the police of extracting false evidence against them.
Usman said he was arrested while on transit to Ondo State from Agbor in Delta State.
He said N500,000 cash and expired drivers’ license were found on him and that he was charged because he could not provide the bribed demanded by the police.
Lawal claimed he was arrested by the police because he followed Usman to the police station to help translate Hausa language.
He denied complicity in the murder of the Afenifere leader’s daughter.
But Justice Williams Olamide held that evidences of the suspects were afterthought to escape the wrath of the law.
Justice Olamide ruled that the prosecution was able to prove the case of conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and aiding and abetting against the three convicts.
He consequently convicted them on the eight count charges preferred against them
Justice Olamide ruled that the convicts are to die either by hanging or by firing squad for the offence of murder and sentenced them to life imprisonment for the offence of kidnapping.
He commiserated with the family of the victim and ask the government to urgently do something about cases of rape, kidnapping and murder.
The convicts were also said to have been involved in the attack and killing of one Matthew Ogunbiyi, a hunter in the forest while they also took a hostage, a German-Nigerian who was released after payment of ransom.
