Justice Abiodun Akinyemi of the state High Court sitting in Abeokuta on Tuesday sentenced one Seyi Oyeneye, a vigilante group member and David Oyedele a landlord to die by hanging for killing Semiu Babatunde.
Semiu, who was said to be a herbalist, was killed by Oyeneye and Oyedele in January 9, 2006 on the street of Olorombo Village, Abeokuta, while going to collect money from a debtor in company of his younger brother who luckily escaped the deadly attack with injuries.
Akinyemi held that the prosecution counsel had proved the charge of conspiracy to commit murder and murder against the accused persons – Seyi Oyeneye and David Oyedele, beyond reasonable doubt and ordered that the two be hanged until they had their last breath of life.
The accused had mistaken the deceased for a criminal and had raised an alarm, shouting “thief, thief” which attracted the Olorombo villagers and leading to subsequent mob – like attack on him.
It was learnt that by the time Semiu’s younger brother returned to the scene of assault in company of their father, Pa Nofiu Babatunde, about 45 minutes later on that fateful day, he had passed out following severe beating and torture by his assailants.
The prosecution state counsel, Mrs Oludayo Osunfisan, from the Department Public Prosecution (DPP), called five witnesses who gave evidences in respect of the matter, including a senior Police officer that testified he “saw the deceased lying in a pool of his own blood tied with a rope and motionless at the scene of crime.”
According to the DPP counsel, the Police testified further that “the deceased, Semiu Babatunde died outside the Federal Medical Centre, Idi – Aba, Abeokuta before they could take him into the hospital.”
Reacting shortly after the judgment, the accused’s counsel, Bola Odelaye, said case may be appealed if the accused families desire it.
(Via World Stage)
