Three to die by hanging for murdering Fasoranti’s daughter

Three out of the four suspected arraigned for involvement in the murder of Olufunke Olakuri will now die by hanging after they were convicted by the court.

The late Mrs Olufunke Olakuri was the second daughter of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the leader of pan-Yoruba cultural organization, Afenifere.

An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has ordered that three out of the four accused assailants in the fatal kidnap operation be killed by hanging.

The death sentence concludes the trial of Mohammed Shehu Usman, Mazaje Lawal, Adamu Adamu and Auwalu Abubakar who were facing murder and kidnapping accusation, among others, in the charge No: AK/111C/2020.

The State prosecuting team was led by the Attorney General of Ondo State, Sir Charles Titiloye, while the defendants were represented by K. A. Gbadamosi and A. N. Obafemi Bawa and others.

Olufunke was killed in July 2019 when suspected herdsmen shot and killed her in a kidnap attempt along Ondo-Ore road, according to the police.

Former spokesperson of Afenifere, late Yinka Odumakin, had explained to newsmen that a gang of some 15 Fulani herdsmen had emerged from the bush and attacked motorists along the Akure-Ore road. They were said to have shot and killed Olafunke as they tried to abduct her.

The Fulani hoodlums, according to the police, succeeded in abducting companions of late Olafunke.

In handing down the death sentence, the trial Judge, Justice William Olamide, however, discharged and acquitted the “4th Defendant, Auwalu Abubakar” of the offence of aiding and abetting kidnapping.

Auwalu Abubakar is said to be the public relations officer of Miyetti Allah, the Islamist group seeking free land in Nigeria for foreign Fulani herdsmen.

The prosecution called nine witnesses which includes, the husband of the deceased, the medical doctor who performed the autopsy, the driver of the deceased who was present at the scene of the crime and the Prime witness, the driver in the back up vehicle, Femi Ajayi who was kidnapped by some of the defendants and who positively identified them during the investigation and trial in the Court.

Also led in evidence during the trial of the case are the investigating Police officers who arrested the Defendants through intelligence reports after the Defendants were caught with firearms at a Police Checkpoint in Edo state.

The Counsel who also witnessed the taking of the confessional statements of some of the witnesses was also called in evidence.

The prosecution tendered in evidence at the trial the confessional statements of the Defendants and firearms recovered from the defendants.

Reacting to the Judgment, the Attorney General of Ondo State Sir Charles Titiloye , commended the trial Court for the well-researched and thorough Judgement, he assured the citizen of the state that the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN would continue to ensure the protection of lives and property and bring to book all perpetrators of criminal acts in the state.