Okada Rider, Two Others Sentenced To Death for Ritual Murder Of Osun Widow

An Osun State High Court sitting in Iwo has sentenced a 47-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Muyideen Tunji, and two of his associates to death by hanging for the murder of a 53-year-old widow, Asiata Yekeen, allegedly for money ritual purposes.

The other convicts are Yusuf Muslim (48) and Rabiu Fatai (55).

Justice Fatimah Sodamade delivered the judgment after finding the defendants guilty of conspiracy, murder, and unlawful possession of human parts, contrary to Sections 324, 319(a), and 329A(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

The trio had earlier been arraigned on January 31, 2022, by the Osun State Government but pleaded not guilty to all charges.

During the trial, the prosecuting counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Barrister Dele Akintayo, told the court that Tunji lured the deceased to his residence in Ile-Ogbo under the pretext of repaying a debt he owed her.

According to the prosecution, upon her arrival, Asiata met the two other defendants, Yusuf Muslim and Rabiu Fatai, in the house. She was subsequently strangled to death, dismembered, and some of her vital body parts were removed, while the remaining parts were buried in a shallow grave behind Tunji’s residence.

Akintayo further explained that the case was reported to the police and operatives of the Osun State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, in Ile-Ogbo, by Suleiman Akorede and Yekini Suleiman after repeated efforts to reach the deceased failed.

He added that witnesses who saw the widow enter Tunji’s house alerted security operatives, prompting a manhunt for the suspect.

“Upon learning that security agencies were searching for him, Tunji fled and hid at the residence of Yusuf Muslim and Rabiu Fatai, allegedly taking along some human parts of the deceased,” the prosecutor said.

The defence counsel to the convicts—Barristers J.D. Olaniyan, Adesina Olaniyan, and Bayo Alade—argued that the prosecution’s case was based on hearsay and urged the court to dismiss the charges.

However, the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered 13 exhibits, including the confessional statements of the defendants.

In her ruling, Justice Sodamade held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the defendants on all counts.

The court sentenced them to four years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder, death by hanging for murder, and five years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of human parts.