Man Kills His Father, To Die By Hanging

An Ado Ekiti High Court has sentenced a man, Blessing Olumakinde Egunlae, to death by hanging for killing his father, Benson Egunlae, over issues of inheritance.

The state Chief Judge, Ayodeji Daramola, who delivered the judgment on Tuesday, concluded that evidence before the court showed that the accused was guilty of murder as charged.

He held that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and so should be hanged.

The accused stood trial for murdering his father who had six wives and 18 children.

The polygamous family had been at daggers drawn over the sharing pattern of parcels of land belonging accused’s father, Mr. Egunlae.

Not satisfied with the sharing, Olumakinde, 47, trailed his father to his farm, cut him to pieces with a machete and axe and fled.

His brothers who were shocked to meet their father in his pool of blood attempted to save his life by rushing him to the hospital, but the man was confirmed dead.

Olumakinde was at large for six months after committing the crime, but eventually turned himself over to the police.

During the trial, the state was represented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi, while the accused person was represented by Morakinyo Ogele.

The prosecution called two witnesses in the course of the trial while the accused testified in his defence.

Exhibits which included an axe and a cutlass with which the accused stabbed his father on the head and the chest and pictures were tendered and admitted.

The accused in his confessional statement to the police admitted killing his father in his farm’s hut.