Domestic Worker Sentenced to Death for Murdering Employer in Ondo
A twenty-one-year-old domestic worker, Emmanuel Akpan, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, for the brutal killing of his employer, Mrs. Febisola Adedayo. The court delivered the verdict after finding Akpan guilty of two counts: conspiracy to commit murder and murder, under Sections 324, 316, and 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
Details of the Crime and Court Proceedings
In a case prosecuted by the state's Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, it was revealed that on March 29, 2021, Akpan and his co-defendant, Goodness James Akpe, attacked the deceased, a food vendor, at her residence on Ifankanbale Street, Sabo, Ondo town, which serves as the headquarters of the Ondo West Local Council. The prosecution presented evidence that the duo conspired to kill Adedayo by inflicting machete cuts on her neck, leading to her death.
Investigations further disclosed that the suspects allegedly murdered their employer to steal valuables, including Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, phones, and a generator. In an attempt to destroy evidence, they also tried to burn down the house. Justice Rotimi Olamide, presiding over the case, held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt on the charge of murder.
Judgment and Sentencing
Justice Olamide noted that the testimonies of prosecution witnesses were credible and consistent under cross-examination, and the confessional statements of the defendants further strengthened the case against them. He rejected the defendants' denials, stating that their claims were contradicted by the evidence presented in court.
The judge described the act as cruel, inhuman, and undeserving of mercy, especially considering that the deceased had once assisted the defendants. However, the court discharged and acquitted the first defendant, Goodness James Akpe, due to a lack of sufficient evidence directly linking him to the killing. In contrast, Akpan was found guilty of murder.
In his final declaration, Justice Olamide stated, "The sentence of the court upon you, Emmanuel Akpan, is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and may the Lord have mercy on your soul." This ruling underscores the severity of the crime and the court's commitment to justice in cases of violent offenses.
