A 42 year old prince of Ekiti state has been sentenced to death over the murder of traditional ruler.
Ademola Omoniyi was sentenced to death by hanging after being arraigned on a one count charge of murder, an offence contrary to Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C16,laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria 2012.
The charge read
” Ademola Stephen Omoniyi on August 20, 2018, at odo Oro Ekiti in the Ikole Ekiti JUdicial Division, murdered His Royal Majesty, Oba Gbadebo Ibitoye Olowoselu 11, the Onise of Odo Oro Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
The sate counsel, Adegboyega Morakinyo, called five witnesses and tendered a medical report, statements of the convict, a knife and a rope among others. The convict on the other hand, spoke through his counsel, Tope Salami and called no witness.
A chief who testified in court said
” We were at the palace on that day for Onise-in-Council meeting around 7am. Before the commencement of the meeting, Ademola Omoniyi entered the palace and sat on Kabiyesi’s seat, but the chiefs frowned at his actions and drove him away”
“After the meeting, the late Onise, in the company of his male clerk, was trekking back to the main palace when Adremola came out of his hiding and attacked Kabiyesi with a knife on the road and stabbed him to death. Before that day, he had been parading himself as the king of the town.
Ruling on the case, Justice Olukayode Ogundana dispelled the claim that the defendant was insane and said
” Consequently, the defendant, Omoniyi Ademola Stephen , is hereby sentenced to death and shall be hanged until he breathes his last breath.