Akure Court sentences Three To Death For Baby’s Kidnap, Murder - TopicsExpress

Akure Court sentences Three To Death For Baby’s Kidnap, Murder Three men were yesterday sentenced to death by hanging by an Akure High Court for alleged kidnapping and murdering of an 18- month-old baby, Rachael Akingboye. They are Olusegun Obaro, Jonah Lase and Theophilus Friday. The trial judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, in his judgment, ruled that the first and second accused persons were guilty of kidnapping and murder, while the third accused person was only guilty of murder. It was learnt that they were arraigned on a two-count charge of kidnapping and murdering of Baby Akingboye, “contrary to and punishable under Section 3 of the Ondo State Anti- Kidnapping and Abduction Law 2010, and murder contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ondo State”. The convicts were said to have abducted the deceased from her parent’s residence at Ikorigho in Igbokoda on the night of June 17, 2011. After she was kidnapped, the remains of Baby Akingboye were said to have been dumped near her parent’s house with her right eye, right ear, right chest and the right part of her scalp missing. The convicts had pleaded not guilty to the charges at the commencement of the trial. However, Justice Odusola in his judgment, held that the totality of the evidence before him showed that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubts that the three accused persons were responsible for the death of the baby. He said: “The offences for which the accused were charged are strict liability offences. Death penalty is the punishment for each of the counts. Having found the first and second accused guilty of both counts, the third accused is guilty of murder. “I hereby sentence Olusegun Obaro, Jonah Lase and Theophilus Friday to death by hanging”.