An Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, on Monday, February 3, convicted and sentenced three persons to death by hanging for killing a couple and their son.
The couple, Kehinde Fatinoye, a former staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) his wife, Bukola Fatinoye and son, Oreoluwa, were gruesomely m8rdered on New Year’s Day in 2023.
The family had returned home after attending the 2022/2023 crossover service at the Christ Anglican Church Iporo-Ake, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
A few hours after the crossover into the New Year, the assailants, led by Bukola’s driver, stormed their semi-detached apartment, k!lled the couple and set their bodies on fire.
Their only surviving son, Oreoluwa, and a house help, Olorunyomi Felix, who they adopted, were tied with ropes and thrown into the Ogun River.The family was still healing from the d3ath of Oluwatunmise, the younger of the two sons, who d!ed in June 2022, while playing football.
Justice Basirat Adebowale sentenced the trio of Adekambi Lekan, who was the driver of the deceased; Odetola Ahmed and Adeniyi Waheed, after delivering a judgement which lasted for more than three hours
The trio were arraigned alongside Fadairo Temitope (wife of the first defendant); Adekambi Adenike, the mother; Owolaja Aanuoluwapo; Usman Azeez, Abass Odetola and Adewusi Lukman.
They were arraigned for a 24-count charge including conspiracy to commit armed robbery, conspiracy, m8rder, arson, escape from lawful custody, perverting the course of justice, and receiving stolen property among others.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Adebowale held that the prosecution proved its cases against three major defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.
The judge found them guilty of gruesomely m8rdering the couple and the son before setting the corpses on fire.
Adebowale also held that in the manner with which the convicts m8rdered the couple and the son, they didn’t not deserve the mercy of the court as prayed by their lawyers.
The Judge convicted and sentenced the first, second and third defendants of counts one to nine, handing them d3ath by hanging or lethal injection, life imprisonment with hard labour, 14 years imprisonment among others.
“The sentence of this court on Adekambi Lekan in respect of count II is that he be hanged by neck until you’re dead or by lethal injection.
“May God have mercy on your soul,” the court held.
Lekan’s Wife was also convicted and sentenced for four years for count 12 and 14, which will run concurrently.
The judge discharged counts 12, 13 and 14 against the mother, but found her guilty of count 15 with a one year imprisonment from the day of remand.
