An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, has sentenced six persons to death by hanging for murder.

The condemned persons are Oniyelu Olu (63), Folorunso Oluwatoba (65), Peter Ajayi (73), Dolamu Olaide (29), John Ojo (77), Lateef Arowolo (45) and Tijani Arowolo (80), who died during the pendency of the suit in court.

The judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, who pronounced the death penalty by hanging on them on Tuesday, said,

“The prosecution has successfully established a prima facie case of conspiracy, attempted murder and murder against them, and may God have mercy on their souls”.

The condemned persons also bagged five years imprisonment each on conspiracy and attempted murder, except the 2nd accused person who was sentenced to 10 years.

According to charges, their offences ran contrary to Sections 516 of the Criminal Code Law,CAP C16, Section 320 of the Criminal Code Law CAP C16 and Section 316 of the Criminal Code Law, all Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

The prosecutor, Olukemi Daniel-Ojo, had told the court that the offence was committed on or about February 7, 2017 at Ilupeju Ekiti when they conspired to murder one Sola Adeniyi (27)and as well attempted to murder another okada man, Ojo Olaoluwa (22).

According to the prosecutor, the okada man had given evidence that

“the 2nd accused person, Folorunso Oluwatoba, stopped him on that fateful day on his okada, when he was about to mount the motorcycle, the okada rider noticed blood drops from his bag, he asked him to open the bag because of police check point ahead, but he (Oluwatoba) answered that it was grasscutter and he could not open the bag, when it was perceived that the content might be incriminating, Oluwatoba took to his heels”.

To prove his case, the prosecutor called five witnesses, while exhibits tendered included confessional statements made to the police by the accused persons, photographs of the severed body of the deceased, medical report from Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, dane gun, locally made single barrel and one cartridge.