A Kwara State High Court in Ilorin has sentenced three artisans to death by hanging for the brutal murder of a fellow mechanic, Saheed Lawal, in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State. The convicts, Isiaka Jimoh, Lekan Ahmed, and Adebayo Saheed, were found guilty of culpable homicide after they tortured Lawal to death over allegations of motor oil theft.
The case, prosecuted by the Kwara State Ministry of Justice, was led by Director of Public Prosecutions Ayoola Akande. The trio were charged with conspiracy and culpable homicide, offenses punishable by death under Section 221 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State.
The court heard that the crime occurred on November 5, 2020, at a mechanic workshop near Government Day Secondary School in the Amuyo area of Offa. During the same incident, the convicts also attempted to kill another artisan, Hamzat Ibrahim, by pouring hot red pepper into his ears.
In his ruling on Thursday, Justice Adebayo Yusuf confirmed that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, presenting eight witnesses, including the Chief Medical Director of Offa General Hospital, Dr. O. M. Abdulsalam. Dr. Abdulsalam testified that Lawal was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
“The three defendants are responsible for the death of Saheed Lawal, who was their colleague at the same workshop in Offa,” Justice Yusuf stated.
The court sentenced Isiaka Jimoh, Lekan Ahmed, and Adebayo Saheed to death by hanging, with Justice Yusuf declaring, “The three defendants are to die by hanging until they breathe their last. May God have mercy on their souls.”
The prosecution had presented eight witnesses, while the defense called three witnesses in their favor. The three convicts were represented by Barr. Bodunrin Adewole, Dr. A. S. Ishola, and Prince J. O. Ijaodola, respectively.
This ruling follows a four-count charge sheet filed on February 9, 2022, detailing the events that led to the tragic death of Saheed Lawal.
