Ayodele Bamidele

A 21-year-old houseboy, Emmanuel Akpan, in Ondo state, is to die by hanging for the murder of his employer, Mrs. Febisola Caroline Adedayo, while his co-defendant, Goodness James Akpe, was discharged and acquitted by an Akure High Court.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday in Charge No: AK/57C/2022, Justice Rotimi Olamide held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt on the charge of murder against the second defendant.

The case, filed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ondo State, contained two counts of conspiracy to commit murder and murder, contrary to Sections 324, 316 and 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

The court heard that the incident occurred on March 29, 2021, at Ifakanbale Street, Sabo, Ondo town, where the deceased, a food vendor, was attacked in her residence at night.

According to the prosecution, the defendants conspired to kill Mrs. Adedayo and the second defendant, Emmanuel Akpan, inflicted fatal machete cuts on her neck, leading to her death.

According to evidence before the court, the suspects allegedly killed the woman after hearing she had money in her house and later attempted to cover up the crime by setting the building on fire to make it look like a gas explosion.

In his judgment, Justice Olamide said the testimonies of prosecution witnesses were credible, consistent and unshaken under cross-examination, adding that the confessional statements of the defendants further strengthened the case against them.

The judge rejected the denial by the defendants, noting that their claims were contradicted by evidence before the court.

The court also held that the second defendant’s explanation of how he was arrested was not believable, stressing that his conduct after the incident pointed to guilt.

Justice Olamide described the act as cruel, inhuman and undeserving of mercy, especially considering that the deceased had once assisted the defendants.

The court subsequently discharged and acquitted the first defendant, Goodness James Akpe, for lack of sufficient evidence linking him directly to the killing.

However, the court found Emmanuel Akpan guilty of murder and pronounced the mandatory sentence.

“The sentence of the court upon you, Emmanuel Akpan, is that you be hanged by the neck until you be dead, and may the Lord have mercy on your soul,” the judge declared.

Akpan and Akpe were arrested in March 2021 after the killing of Mrs. Adedayo in Ondo town.

Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly murdered their employer in order to steal valuables including ATM cards, phones and a generator before attempting to burn the house to destroy evidence.