An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced a 42-year-old man, Sunday Arowolo, to death by hanging for killing his family member.
Arowolo was arraigned before the court on November 5, 2021 on one count of murder.
“That the defendant (Arowolo) on April 9, 2021 at Ikogosi within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did murder one Dare Arowolo.
“The offence contravened Section 391(1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012,” the charge sheet states.
According to a son of the deceased in his statement to the police, the defendant appeared from the bush, trapped his father on the arm and hit his father’s head and chest with wooden pestle.
The son added, “I tried to release the trap, but it was too strong for me. Sunday Arowolo (the defendant) reappeared with a stick to hit me.
“He fell down while chasing me. So, I ran to the nearby villagers for help, but they said they could not dare him.
“I went to town to inform our families. They came with a motorcycle and took my dad to the hospital where he later died.”
The prosecutor, Oluwaseun Olasanmi, called seven witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement, pictures of the deceased, and death report, among others, as exhibits.
The convict spoke in his own defence through his counsel and called two witnesses.
The court, which found the defendant guilty of the offence of murder, pronounced that he “be hanged by the neck till he be dead.”
In the judgment, Justice Adeniyi Familoni said, “Upon the totality of the evidence adduced by the prosecutor, I am satisfied that the prosecution has satisfactorily proved the ingredients of the alleged offence of murder of Dare Arowolo against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.
“Consequently, the defendant, Sunday Arowolo, is hereby found guilty and convicted of the offence of murder of Arowolo Dare on April 9, 2021.”
