An Akure High Court yesterday sentenced three killers of Mrs Funke Olakuri, daughter of the Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, to death, either by hanging or firing squad.
The fourth person, Awalu Abubakar, was however, discharged.
The convicts, including Muhammed Shehu Usman, Mazaje Lawal and Adamu Adamu, were sentenced to death by hanging or firing squad by Justice Williams Olamide for offences, ranging from conspiracy to murder, kidnapping and armed robbery.
Mrs Olakunri was killed on July 12, 2019 along the Ore/Ijebu-Ode road in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State when she was on her way from Akure to Lagos to attend a social function, while her driver, Femi Ajayi, was kidnapped and spent seven days in the captivity of the kidnappers.
The same convicts also attacked and killed Matthew Ogunbiyi, a hunter in the forest while they also took hostage, a German-Nigerian, who was released after the payment of ransom.
The Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Titiloye, had preferred eight-count charge against four suspects. The charges included murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, aiding and abetting.
The culprits pleaded not guilty to the eight-charge counts preferred against them. In their evidence before the court, the suspects said they were not part of the kidnapping gang that killed Olakunri, saying the police extracted false evidence against them.
However, in his verdict, Justice Olamide faulted the claims of the suspects and on the ground that their evidences were an afterthought to escape the wrath of the law.
Meanwhile, the apex pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has commended the judiciary over the death sentence given to the killers of Mrs Olakunrin.
Responding to the court verdict, the national publicity secretary of the organisation, Comrade Jare Ajayi, in a statement, noted that the judgement was an indication that justice can be adroitly dispensed in Nigeria if the judiciary is allowed to function unfettered.
The group also reiterated its call for state police to stop all acts of terrorism in the country. It commended the Nigeria Police Force for diligently investigating and prosecuting the case.
The Afenifere also commended the Ondo State Government for its diligence in handling the case.
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