Two Vigilantes Jailed 21 Years For Murder Of Ospoly Students

By Grace Isaac

An Osun State high Court, Sitting in  ilesha presided over by Honourable Justice Isiaka Adeleke on Tuesday convicted and sentenced two men to (21) Twenty-one year imprisonment each without option of fine for murder.

The convicts are Olabisi Olajuwon ,42 and Kayode Opeolu 55.

The two were arraigned before the high Court on three-count charge of Conspiracy, attempted murder and murder.

The prosecution team from the Osun State, Ministry of Justice led by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ajibola Basiru who appeared along with Chief State Counsel Rachael Ojimi (Mrs).

Dr. Ajibola earlier told the court that the convicts committed the crime on 24th of September, 2006.

The convicts according to Dr Ajibola claimed to be Vigilantes and stopped the motorcycle  carrying Omotayo Ogunlaja, Bashiru Saheed and Oluwole Segun on their way to Ada at that time all were Students of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.

He said they accused Omotayo Ogunlaja as one of the cultists terrorising the community and three students were driven in a van to a bush along Eripa, Otan-Ayegbaju road where their hands were tied behind them. Later, each of the students were shot. Omotayo pretended to be dead and he was pushed into the nearby ditch.

The other two were shot dead and one of them was beheaded. The assailants then swore to an oath not to reveal the secret and if caught not to mention anyone’s name.

In the early hours of 25th, September 2006 Omotayo crawled out of the dicth and was assisted to the hospital where he volunteered his statement to the Police.

His statement led to the arrest of the convicts who also volunteered their confessional statements.

The offence according to Dr Ajibola was contrary to Sections 324, 320 and 319 of the Criminal Code Volume. 11, Cap 34, Laws of Osun respectively.

Prosecuting counsel  called five (5) witnesses to testify in the Court during the trial.

In the course of trial ,Wemimo Adewale, the first accused person  died and his name was struck out from the charge.

Counsel to the Convicts ,Julius Akhigbe Esq, pleaded to the court to temper judgement with mercy because his Clients have regretted their actions.

In his judgement ,Justice Adeleke  stated that the prosecution counsel have proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and from evidence before the Court he stated that he was satisfied and then sentenced each of them to (21) Twenty-one years imprisonment beginning from today 20th December, 2017.