Three of the eight accused persons alleged to have raped and murdered a 24-year-old University of Ilorin student, Olajide Blessing Omowumi on June 2, 2021 have been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.
The accused were arraigned before the court by the Kwara State government in suit No KWS/33c/c/2021 on 11-count charge bordering on armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and rape.
In his verdict on Tuesday,Justice Ibrahim Adebayo Yusuf of the Kwara state High Court, Ilorin on Tuesday, said the three convicts were found guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to murder.
The prosecution counsel and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Salman Jawondo, who spoke with journalists after the court session, gave summary of the court verdict.
He added:”The first, second and third defendants who are the main culprits were found guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to murder. They were accordingly sentenced to death. That’s maximum. There’s no discretion for the court to exercise by virtue of provision of the armed robbery Act, it’s death. So also by virtue of section 221 of the penal code, it’s death sentence for culpable homicide. So, they were accordingly sentenced to death”.
