Justice Oyeyemi Ajayi of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, has convicted five suspects to death by hanging after they were found guilty of killing a taxi driver at Arulogun, in Akinyele Local Government Area in 2024, on Monday.

The convicts—Segun Taiwo (36), Kehinde Ademola (46), Yahaya Adeniyi (45), Chinonso Samson (41) and Opadotun Michael (32)—were jointly responsible for the conspiracy and murder of Akeem Shittu.

They were convicted for conspiracy to commit murder.

The presiding judge, in his ruling, submitted that the court could safely infer conspiracy in the acts that led to the death of Shittu.

He, therefore, imposed a 20-year prison sentence on each defendant for conspiracy, as well as sentencing them to death by hanging on a second count charge of murder.

Earlier, State Counsel K. K. Oloso narrated how a minor road incident spiralled into a deadly attack.

She explained that on 10 April 2024, around 8:30 p.m. on Elepe, Arulogun Road in the Ojoo area of Ibadan, the defendants and others still at large attacked Shittu after he accidentally hit a motorcycle carrying two passengers.

“The parties reportedly moved to a nearby pub to settle the matter. There, the motorcyclists’ group allegedly demanded N50,000 for treatment, but Shittu managed to offer only N8,000. He was prevented from leaving, stripped naked, and although he managed to flee briefly, he was later cornered and hacked to death with a machete.”

Investigators later discovered his taxi and handkerchief abandoned in front of a shop belonging to one of the convicts’ wives.

The prosecution emphasised that the offences are contrary to Sections 316 and punishable under Sections 319 and 324 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.

These sections of the law prescribe severe penalties for conspiracy and homicide. (Nigerian Tribune)