ONDO STATE HIGH COURT DELIVERED JUDGEMENT IN FUNKE OLAKUNRIN (CHIEF RUEBEN FASORANTI DAUGHTER) MURDER, SENTENCED THREE OF THE DEFENDANTS TO DEATH FOR CONSPIRACY, MURDER, ARMED ROBBERY AND KIDNAPPING.
The High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo state, presided over by Hon. Justice Williams Olamide today delivered Judgment in the Murder of Olufunke Olakunrin, the daughter of the Elder State man, Chief Reuben Fasoranti. The 1st to 3rd Defendants in the criminal trial were sentenced to death for Conspiracy to commit armed robbery, kidnapping and murder.
Facing trial in the said case of murder and kidnapping in charge No: AK/111C/2020 are
(1) Mohammed Shehu Usman,
(2) Mazaje Lawal,
(3) Adamu Adamu and
(4) Auwalu Abubakar.
The State prosecuting team was led by the Hon. Attorney General of Ondo State, Sir Charles Titiloye ksm, while the Defendants were represented by K. A. Gbadamosi and A. N. Obafemi Bawa and others.
The prosecution called 9 (nine) witnesses. Called in evidence are, the husband of the deseased, the medical Doctor who performed the autopsy, the driver of the deseased who was present at the scene of crime and the Prime witness, the driver in the back up vehicle, Femi Ajayi who was kidnapped by some of the defendants and who positively identified them during the investigation and trial in the Court.
Also led in evidence during the trial of the case are the investigating Police officers who arrested the Defendants through intelligence report after the Defendants were caught with firearms at a Police Check point in Edo state. The Counsel who also witnessed the taking of the confessional statements of some of the witnesses was also called in evidence.
The prosecution tendered in evidence at the trial the confessional statements of the Defendants and firearms recovered from the Defendants.
On the strength of evidence before the Court, the trial Court held that the the 1st to 3rd Defendants Mohammed Shehu Usman, Mazaje Lawal and Adamu Adamu, (the former PRO of Miyetti Allah cattle breeders Association in Ondo State) were guilty as charged for Conspiracy, Armed Robbery, kidnapping and murder of Olufunke Olakunrin. They were accordingly sentenced to death by hanging.
The 4th Defendant, Auwalu Abubakar was however discharged of the offence of aiding and abetting kidnapping.
Reacting to the Judgment, the Honourable Attorney General of Ondo State Sir Charles Titiloye ksm, commended the trial Court for the well researched and thorough Judgement, he assured the citizen of the state that the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN will continue to ensure the protection of lives and property and bring to book all perpetrators of criminal acts in the state.
Signed
Leo Ologun.
Director of Public Prosecution,
Ministry of Justice,
Akure
