Three persons were on Tuesday, July 9, sentenced to death by hanging over the murder of a corps member, Mukaila Adebayo, during a robbery operation in Osogbo.

Those convicted by Justice Adedapo Adeniji of the Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife, are Jelili Kareem, a herbal seller, Oludayo Oludele, a commercial motorcyclist, and Muyiwa Awodeji, said to be an electrician.

The convicts were arraigned, tried and found guilty of charges of conspiracy, armed robbery, murder and unlawful possession of firearms.

Justice Adeniji held that the prosecution proved all the ingredients of the offences against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

He consequently convicted and sentenced all three of them to death.

The judge, however, discharged and acquitted the fourth defendant, Anifowose Buliaminu, for lack of diligent prosecution. Buliaminu was charged with receiving stolen property.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Muyiwa Ogunleye, told the court that the convicts committed the offences on January 28, 2020, at Omo West Area, Osogbo. He said the convicts robbed and killed their victim, Adebayo Mukaila.

“They were later arrested and charged to court of offences bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, murder and unlawful possession of firearms,” Ogunleye said.

The prosecution counsel said that the offences of conspiracy and murder contravened sections 516, and 324 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 34, Vol 2, Laws of Osun, 2002.

According to him, the offence of armed robbery contravenes Section 6(b) and is punishable under Section 1(2)(a)&(b) of the Robbery & Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap RII, Law of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The offences of unlawful possession of firearms, according to him, also contravene Section 27(1)(b)(ii) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap. R11, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Ogunleye, along with his colleague, Ibukun Adeoye, had called four witnesses and tendered exhibits to prove the offences against the convicts during the trial.