The killers of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, the daughter of the Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, has been sentenced to death by the Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure.
The presiding judge, Justice Williams Olamide found the three persons indicted guilty of involving in murder, kidnapping and armed robbery and sentenced them to death.
The convicts are Awalu Abubakar, Muhammed Shehu and Adamu Adamu.
DAILY GIST recalls deceased was killed by the convicts along Benin-Ore-Shagamu Expressway in the Ore Odigbo Local Government Area of the state in June 2019, on her way to Lagos State.
Delivering judgment, Justice William Olamide, discharged and acquitted the fourth defendant, Abubakar, who was charged with aiding and abetting the crime.
Justice Olamide held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The judge delivered the judgment after listening to submissions by the prosecution and defence counsel and adopted the final written addresses.
Mr Charles Titiloye appeared for the prosecution while Mr Obafemi Bawa appeared for the defence.
They were first arraigned in an Akure Magistrate’s Court, which ordered their remand in Owo Correctional Centre.
The convict then had no representation in court but pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The Ondo State Attorney-General, Kola Olawoye, who represented the state, declared that the state government was ready to take over the case.
He urged the court to rely on the statement deposed by an official of FSARs, Akeem Ogunjobi, who prayed that the suspects should be remanded at the Correctional Centre in Owo because Akure Correctional facility was over stretched.
He also pleaded with the court to allow the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to conduct a COVID-19 test on the defendants before moving them to the Correctional Centre.
According to him, the test was necessary because of the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the globe. He said the health status of the four accused persons must be ascertained in order not to infect other inmates at the facility.
Magistrate Victoria Bob-Manuel, in her ruling, granted the prayers of the prosecuting counsel and remanded the accused at Owo Correctional facility. She also ordered that their samples must be tested before being remanded at the centre.
Bob-Manuel, however, disclosed that the court lacks the jurisdiction to try the defendants but adjourned the case to June 3, for the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution.
