An Abeokuta High Court sitting in Kobape has sentenced three men to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of Kehinde Fatinoye, his wife Bukola, and their son Oreoluwa on January 1, 2023.
The convicts Lekan Adekanbi, Ahmed Odetola and Waheed Adeniyi were found guilty of conspiracy, armed robbery, murder, arson and other charges.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Basirat Adebowale held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, stating that the trio were primarily involved in the heinous crimes.
“You, Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi, for killing father, mother, and son; you don’t deserve mercy,” the judge declared before sentencing them to death by hanging.
The prosecution revealed that the crimes were committed on Karounwi Street, Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta. Adekanbi, who was employed as the family’s driver, conspired with Odetola and Adeniyi to rob and murder the couple.
Armed with a gun, hammer and cutlass, the trio robbed Kehinde Fatinoye of ₦1.102 million and his Hyundai vehicle worth ₦12 million. They also robbed Bukola Fatinoye of phones valued at ₦1 million.
During the attack, Adekanbi used a sledgehammer to strike Bukola on the head and then slashed her neck. Adeniyi also used a knife to slit Kehinde’s throat. After the robbery, the perpetrators set the house ablaze. The couple’s son, Oreoluwa, was bound and thrown into the Ogun River, leading to his death.
The court also convicted and sentenced several others implicated in the case.
Temitope Fadairo, Adekanbi’s wife, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for perverting the course of justice by hiding her husband.
Adenike Adekanbi, Adekanbi’s mother, received a one-year prison term for providing false information to the police.
Azeez Usman, a welder, was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for receiving stolen property, two years for being an accessory to armed robbery and seven years for compounding felonies. These sentences will run concurrently with hard labour.
Anuoluwapo Owolaja was sentenced to two years imprisonment as an accessory after the fact of murder.
Two other defendants Abass Odetola and Lukmon Adewusi were discharged of all charges.
