An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced a vulcaniser, Wasiu Ibrahim, to death by hanging for the murder of Joseph Odunayo over the alleged theft of a mobile phone.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ademola Enikuomehin found Ibrahim guilty of murder and conspiracy, ruling that the prosecution established its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court also sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment for conspiracy.
The prosecution, led by D.S. Msonter-Shagba, told the court that the incident occurred on December 31, 2024, along Continental Road in Akure after Odunayo was accused of stealing an Infinix phone belonging to Lekan Falohun a few days earlier.
According to the prosecution, Odunayo was apprehended by Falohun, Ibrahim and others.
He was allegedly forced to identify the person who bought the phone and sustained injuries after jumping from a moving motorcycle while trying to escape.
The court heard that after he was recaptured, the victim was tied up and severely beaten by Ibrahim and other suspects who remain at large. Witnesses testified that the assault continued despite repeated pleas from family members and residents.
Evidence before the court also showed that the victim was later taken to a police station, but officers reportedly directed that he be moved to a hospital because of his critical condition. He later died at a police clinic.
Although no autopsy was conducted, Justice Enikuomehin held that eyewitness testimonies and the circumstances surrounding the incident sufficiently established that the assault led to Odunayo’s death.
The judge dismissed Ibrahim’s claim that he was only an commercial motorcyclist hired by those involved.
Condemning mob justice and extrajudicial punishment, the judge urged the police to arrest the remaining suspects, including Falohun.
He thereafter sentenced Ibrahim to death by hanging, praying that God would have mercy on his soul.