Justice Kudrat Akano of Osun State High Court on Tuesday sentenced four persons, including a 102-year-old herbalist to death by hanging for killing an SS3 student for money ritual in Ilesa, Osun State.
The convicts are Pa. Oluwafemi Fagbemi (herbalist), 26-year-old Famutuwa Femi, Tope Olatunji and the victim’s friend, Tobi Ojo.
The prosecuting counsel from the state Ministry of Justice, Mr. Abiodun Badiora, had informed the court that the convicts committed the crimes on April 13, 2012.
Badiora said the convicts conspired and murdered one Jacob Ajayi, who was writing his WASCE in 2012, for money ritual.
According to the prosecutor, Tobi Ojo, the victim’s friend was said to have conspired with his accomplice to kill Ajayi for money ritual purposes.
Ojo was said to have led Ajayi to the herbalist’s house.
Ajayi, aged 21, was said to have been beheaded, his genitals and legs cut off before his remains were dumped inside a septic tank (soak away pit) by the four convicts.
The convicts had pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and murder, when they were earlier arraigned.
The prosecution had argued that the convicts contravened Sections 324 and 319 of the Criminal Code Cap. 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002, before the matter went into hearing.
After about four years of hearing the matter, the Presiding Judge, Justice Akano, found the four persons guilty as charged and convicted them accordingly.
Their counsel, A.O. Oluwole, consequently pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convicts.
But Justice Akano sentenced the four convicts to 14 years imprisonment each for the first count of conspiracy and ordered that they should be hanged to death for the second count of murder.
