Olusegun Ariyo
Three artisans were on Thursday sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of one Saheed Lawal, a fellow artisan in Offa Community, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Justice Adebayo Yusuf of the State High Court No. 8 in Ilorin delivered the judgment, sentencing the three convicts—Isiaka Jimoh, Lekan Ahmed, and Adebayo Saheed—who were mechanics in the Amuyo area of Offa. The court found them guilty of causing the death of Saheed Lawal.
They were prosecuted by the Kwara State Ministry of Justice for the killing, which occurred on 5 November 2020 at a mechanic workshop near Government Day Secondary School in Amuyo, Offa.
The trio were tried on a four-count charge filed before the court on 9 February 2022 by the Kwara State Director of Public Prosecutions, Ayoola Akande. They faced charges of conspiracy and culpable homicide, both punishable by death.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants conspired to commit culpable homicide, an offence under Section 221 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State.
They were also accused of attempting to commit culpable homicide by pouring hot red pepper into the ears of another artisan, Hamzat Ibrahim, at the same workshop in Offa.
The first to third defendants were represented by Barrister Bodunrin Adewole, Dr A. S. Ishola, and Prince J. O. Ijaodola, respectively.
Delivering judgment, Justice Yusuf stated that the prosecution had called eight witnesses during the trial, while the defendants testified on their behalf and called three additional witnesses.
The court heard that “on the day of the incident, Saheed Lawal, a motor mechanic whose workshop was located at the mentioned address, was accused by the first and second convicts (Isiaka Jimoh and Lekan Ahmed) of stealing motor oil.
“They, along with the third convict, Adebayo Saheed (also known as Eje), tortured Lawal until he lost consciousness,” a witness further told the court.
Dr O. M. Abdulsalam, the Chief Medical Director of the State General Hospital, Offa, and one of the prosecution witnesses, testified that he had “pronounced Saheed dead on arrival at the hospital after conducting a series of medical examinations on him.”
In his judgment, Justice Yusuf stated that the evidence before the court established that the three defendants were responsible for the death of Saheed Lawal, who had been their fellow artisan at the same workshop in Offa.
“I found the evidence provided by the prosecution witnesses to be credible and was convinced beyond reasonable doubt of the defendants’ responsibility for the death of Saheed Lawal.
“Consequently, the three defendants are found guilty of the charges against them and are sentenced to death by hanging. They are to die by hanging until they take their last breath. May God have mercy on them,” Justice Yusuf declared.
