Watchmaker, 3 others get death sentence for killing corps member

A watchmaker, Oludayo Oladele, Awodeji Muyiwa and a herbseller, Jelili Kareem have been sentenced to death for robbing and killing a corps member, Adebayo Mukaila in Osogbo, Osun State capital.

The duo had on January 28, 2020, at Omo-West area robbed and killed the Adebayo, corps member and recharge card vendor at his shop in the presence of his daughter.

They pleaded not guilty when they were first arraigned with a vulcaniser, Anifowose Biliaminu, who they sold the robbed recharge card to, before Justice Adedapo Adeniji of an Osun State High Court on October 8, 2020.

They were arraigned on six counts charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, illegal possession and murder.

During the trial, a prosecutor from the Ministry of Justice, Muyiwa Ogunleye called four witnesses, 10-year-old daughter of the deceased, his elder brother, a pathologist and the Investigative Police Officer, IPO. 

He told the court that the convicts conspired to rob and kill one Mukaila of his phone, recharge card and other valuables.

According to him, Biliaminu also received recharge card stolen from Mukaila.

, saying their offences contravened sections 316, 319 and 324 of Criminal Code Law. Cap.34, Vol. 2. Laws of  State, 2002 and Section 27 of the Robbery and Fire arms Act Cap R11, LFN 2004. 

In support of his case, the prosecutor tendered as exhibits, the deceased’s autopsy report and the murder weapon before the court.

However, the defence counsel, Shina Olaniyan, Folashade Ipede and Suleiman Akano urged the court to dispelled the case against the convicts, noting that the prosecution did not prove the case of murder, conspiracy to armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms against the defendants. 

In his judgment, Justice Adeniji said that the prosecution proved all the case beyond reasonable doubt. 

He, therefore, sentenced the three convicts to death for the offences and discharged and acquitted Anifowose Biliaminu for receiving stolen recharge cards.