Traditional ruler son, two brothers to die by hanging

Son of a traditional ruler in Mafoluku, Oshodi in Lagos State, Mr. Bashiru Omilade’s son, Ibrahim Omilade and two brothers have been sentenced to death by hanging by a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

Justice Kudirat Jose pronounced the death sentence on Baale’s son alongside Shola Oni and Kayode Oni who are siblings after finding them guilty of murdering one Suleiman Afolabi.

The three young convicts were charged for conspiracy and murder of one Suleiman Afolabi during a fight on a Christmas day in 2012 at Eyin Ogun Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, in Lagos State when Suleiman was cut with a machete.

While delivery the judgment, Justice Jose said “I pronounce the defendants guilty in respect of the charge of murder and conspiracy…, they shall be sentenced to death, hanged by the neck until their death.”

She however cautioned youths to learn from the ordeal that befell the convicts. Young ones should be careful of going about to attack people to settle scores.

The trial on 25th December, 2012 during a fight at the deceased house when according to the defendants they were invited by a neighbour to celebrate the Christmas with him.

 They said it was not too long on the said date that a young boy came in and informed them that the deceased brother, Akeem Afolabi had threatened to deal with them.

They claimed that they went to inquire the reason for the threat but while discussing Akeem ordered them to get away. He was alleged to have gone inside the house to get a cutlass with which he tried to attack one of them, an attempt, they said another blocked with his hand and got injured.

The convicts further told the court during trial that it was while they were trying to dodge and plead with a berserk Akeem that Suleiman, a younger brother to the deceased was hit by the waist.

They said they got to know some days later that a doctor had pronounced the deceased dead.

The judge however said their testimony before the court sounded rehearsed and polished, hence she relied on the evidence before the court presented by both the prosecution counsel, Mr. Babatunde Oguntemowo and Mr. Olarewaju Ajanaku as well as points of law to pass judgement of death for the murder and 12 years for conspiracy counting from the day they were arrested.