A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced three artisans to death by hanging for the brutal murder of a fellow mechanic, Saheed Lawal, in the Offa community of Offa Local Government Area.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice Adebayo Yusuf of State High Court No. 8 found the convicts—Isiaka Jimoh, Lekan Ahmed, and Adebayo Saheed—guilty of the murder, which took place at a mechanic workshop near Government Day Secondary School, Amuyo, Offa, on November 5, 2020.
The men were tried on a four-count charge filed on February 9, 2022, by the Kwara State Ministry of Justice, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ayoola Akande. They faced charges of conspiracy and culpable homicide, both punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State.
According to court documents, the three accused not only conspired to kill Lawal but also attempted to commit another homicide by pouring hot red pepper into the ears of another artisan, Hamzat Ibrahim, at the same location.
Representing the three defendants were Barrister Bodunrin Adewole, Dr A. S. Ishola, and Prince J. O. Ijaodola.
The prosecution called eight witnesses, while the defendants took the stand themselves and presented three witnesses in their defense.
During the trial, it was revealed that “on the day of the incident, Saheed Lawal, a motor mechanic whose workshop was located at the mentioned address, was accused by the first and second convicts (Isiaka Jimoh and Lekan Ahmed) of stealing motor oil.”
A witness added that “They, along with the third convict, Adebayo Saheed (also known as Eje), tortured Lawal until he lost consciousness.”
Testifying for the prosecution, Dr O. M. Abdulsalam, Chief Medical Director of the State General Hospital, Offa, stated he “pronounced Saheed dead on arrival at the hospital after conducting a series of medical examinations on him.”
In his ruling, Justice Yusuf held the defendants accountable for the death.
“I found the evidence provided by the prosecution witnesses to be credible and was convinced beyond reasonable doubt of the defendants’ responsibility for the death of Saheed Lawal.
Consequently, the three defendants are found guilty of the charges against them and are sentenced to death by hanging. They are to die by hanging until they take their last breath. May God have mercy on them,” Justice Yusuf declared.
The ruling marks a major legal development in the pursuit of justice in Offa, shedding light on the ongoing efforts to address violence and uphold the rule of law in Kwara State.
