Court Condemns Duo To Death By Hanging For Murder

For killing a 400 level student of Osun State University (Uniosun), an Osun State High Court, sitting in Ikirun has sentenced two men, Elijah Oyebode and Jelili Raji to death by hanging.

The accused persons were first arraigned in court on November 14, 2017 alongside one Yusuf Ajibade (28).

The trio were brought before the court on a three count-charge of conspiracy, murder, and accessory, contrary to Sections 324, 316 and Punishable under Section 319 and 322 of the Criminal Code Cap.III Laws of Osun state, 2002, respectively.

During the trial, the prosecution counsel called five witnesses and tendered several exhibits before the Court while the convicts testified by themselves.

Prosecution counsel, Mr Kareem Adekilekun, who appeared alongside Kemi Oyolola, told the Court that “On the 22nd December 2016 Miss Rofiat Damilola Adebisi, a 400 Level student of Osun State University, Ipetu-Ijesa Campus boarded a Golf Car with Registration number, Lagos FKJ 636 DL driven by Mr. Elijah Oyebode.

However, on December 23, 2016, the body of Rofiat Damilola Adebisi was later found by the roadside, along Egbeda/Iragbiji Road. Yusuf Ajibade was said to have been arrested through the deceased iPhone 5 which he sold to Quadri on the instruction of Elijah Oyebode.

“Elijah Oyebode in his statement said Jelili Raji, asked him to supply him a maid and given him a charm to touch any lady, he intended to bring for him and the lady will not argue with him, Elijah handed over Rofiat Adebisi, a 400-level-student of Uniosun to him at his shrine and paid him the sum of N10,000.

“Elijah also confessed that he used that charm to touch Rofiat while she tried to put her luggage in the car boot.”

The Police Officer attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Adeyeye Simon, who testified against the trio, said, “Elijah Oyebode was a commercial driver, plying the route of Akure/Owena Road. Elijah and Yusuf Ajibade took the (deceased) Rofiat Damilola Adebisi to Jelili Raji house’s after Elijah have had sex with the deceased.

He also claimed that the lady died at Jelili Raji house while Elijah Oyebode and Ajibade dumped the body of Rofiat Adebisi (deceased) along Egbeda/Iragbiji road.

Another witness from the Department of State Security Service (DSS) identified as Olatomiwa Alade, said a data report was obtained from DSS Headquarters Abuja while the deceased phone was traced to Kolapo Quadiri which alleged that he bought the phone from Yusuf Ajibade, who acquired the phone from Elijah Oyebode.

Barrister Adekilekun, further told the Court that confessional statements of all the accused have been shown to be true and have also been corroborated by the evidence of Adeyeye Simon, a Police Officer.

Counsel to the convicts, Suleiman Bello however pleaded with the Court to temper justice with mercy.

In the court’s ruling, Justice Falola said the prosecution counsel had proved his case beyond reasonable doubt and found Elijah Oyebode and Jelili Raji guilty of conspiracy and murder.

The judge thereby sentenced them to death by hanging while the third defendant, Yusuf Ajibade was acquitted from two counts charge of murder and conspiracy but convicted on third for receiving stolen property and sentenced to a two-year jail term.