The defendants, Ibrahim Issa, Lateef Bello, Abdul Ramon Soliu, Bello Ibrahim, and Abudu Mumini Jolaanobi Saheed, adducted the deceased from his residence at Owode- Ede on April 17, 2018, and whisked him away to an isolated place where they perpetrated the act.
The convicts were first arraigned before the court on October 28, 2021, for offences bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were contravened Sections 324, 319, and 364 of the Criminal Code Laws of Osun State.
During the trial, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Moses Faremi, led one of the prosecution witnesses, the Investigating Police Officer in charge of the case, Mr. Ganiyu Taofeek, who told the court that, “while Adamu was in the custody of the abductors, he identified one of the perpetrators, which made those involved in the crime kill him.”
He said, “a member of the gang, Abdu Mumini, having realised that Adamu had identified one of them, directed other members of the gang including three Togolese, who are yet to be arrested, to slaughter the victim”.
The counsel tendered exhibits including statements and a mask allegedly used by the defendants left at the scene of the crime.
“After Adamu had been killed, Abdul Mumini went away with the head and heart, while Soliu, another member of the gang, took the deceased’s arms before dumping the remains at the Osun river. ”
“Abdu Mumini in his confessional statement told the court why the gang killed Adamu and how they shared the ransom they collected from the victim’s family”.
The defence counsel, Mr. Bola Ige, urged the court to tamper justice with mercy, arguing that the charges against his clients had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt.
In the judgment, the judge, Justice Kudirat Akano sentenced the accused persons to death by hanging after finding them guilty of the offences committed.
