Man sentenced to death by hanging over ritual killing

A High Court sitting in Ile-Ife, Osun state sentenced a 37-year-old man, Oluleke Ogunyemi, to death by hanging for murder on Tuesday.

The accused had been arraigned before the court on March 6, 2013, for killing one Moshood Babalola.

He was charged with conspiracy and murder.

The offences are punishable under sections 319 and 324 of the Criminal Code Cap. 34, Laws of Osun State.

According to details before the court, the accused, at Iredunmi area, Ile-Ife, around 10am on February 17, 2010, killed Babalola after cutting off his head with a knife.

The deceased’s father, Sikiru Babalola, reported the incident at the More Police Station, Ile -Ife.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution counsel from the state’s Ministry of Justice, Mr Tijani Adekilekun, called five witnesses.

Testifying before the court, a prosecution witness, Inspector Rasheedat Olanrewaju, said she and two police operatives visited Agbedegbede area of Ife, where the accused used to reside.

She said the team, while searching the house of the accused, found the victim’s decomposing body.

Olanrewaju added that the accused in his statement to the police confessed that he killed Babalola for ritual purposes.

In his judgement, Justice Adedotun Onibokun found the accused guilty of the charges.

He subsequently sentenced him to death by hanging.