Six persons were on Monday, January 16, handed death sentences by an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo.
Four men were sentenced to death by hanging for reportedly robbing and killing one Victor Akinbile, a relative of the immediate past Osun State Deputy Governor, Mr. Benedict Alabi.
The men who pleaded not guilty before being convicted and sentenced, have been identified as Hammed Rafiu, 37; Rasidi Waidi, 39; Kayode Sunday, 29; and Owolabi Bashiru, 54.
Prosecution Counsel from the state Ministry of Justice, Dele Akintayo, told the court that Akinbile had come to Osun on November 26, 2018, for the swearing-in ceremony of the former governor, Adeboyega Oyetola, and went to Ikirun to pass the night when he was abducted by the four men.
They forcefully gained entrance into the victim’s room and demanded a sum of N10 million.
Akinbile was locked up in the trunk of his Toyota Camry and driven to a spot along the Osogbo/Ikirun road where the car was set ablaze.
He reportedly transferred N3 million to a bank account belonging to one of the assailants and also gave them cash before being killed.
Asides from sentencing the convicts to death, Justice Jide Falola also ruled that none of the convicts should benefit from any state pardon due to the gravity of the offence they committed.
Justice Falola also sentenced Mutiu Azeez a.k.a. Tompolo, 41, and Afolabi Mayowa, 35, to death by hanging for armed robbery and murder.
The convicts reportedly killed and stole the motorcycle of the commercial motorcyclist they asked to take them to Egbeda.
