The Oyo state high court in Ibadan on Monday sentenced five men to death by hanging for their involvement in the murder of a taxi driver, Akeem Shittu.
The defendants identified as Segun Taiwo (36), Kehinde Ademola (46), Yahaya Adeniyi (45), Chinonso Samson (41), and Opadotun Michael (32) were found guilty on charges of conspiracy and murder.
The offences contravened sections 316, 319, and 324 of the criminal code laws of Oyo state, 2000.
Justice Oyeyemi Ajayi ruled that the prosecution had established a clear case of joint participation.
“I am of the considered view that this court can safely infer conspiracy in the events that led to the death of Akeem Shittu,” she said.
She added that the circumstantial evidence sufficiently proved coordinated action by the defendants.
Justice Ajayi sentenced each defendants to 20 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder and death by hanging for murder.
Prosecution counsel, K. K. Oloso, told the court that the incident occurred on April 10, 2024, around 8:30 p.m. at Elepe, Arulogun road, Ojoo, Ibadan.
Shittu reportedly collided with a motorcycle carrying two riders, which escalated into a dispute that continued at a nearby pub.
The deceased was asked to pay ₦50,000 for treatment but offered ₦8,000 instead which led to him being detained and stripped naked.
He later fled the scene, only to be pursued, overpowered, and hacked to death with a machete.
His taxi was subsequently found parked in front of one of the defendants’ wife’s shop.