Precious Oham
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, sentenced one Pastor Erinmole Adetokunbo and his bricklayer accomplice, Adedoyin Oyekanmi, to death for killing a seven-year-old boy in Ikorodu area of Lagos state.
The duo were sentenced to death, after they pleaded guilty to the two-count charge brought against them by the state government.
They were arraigned on October 30, 2017, on a two-count murder charge.
According to the charge sheet, Oyekanmi and Adetokunbo, on June 7, 2017, at number 6, Oke Oniburokun Street, Odokekere, Ikorodu, did conspire to murder one Kazeem Rafiu.
The prosecution had alleged that they beheaded Rafiu and buried the head around the church’s altar, while the body was kept in a canal.
Adetokunbo, who was apprehended by residents, confessed to the crime and named Oyekanmi as his accomplice.
The duo led a team of policemen to the church, where the remains of the victim were recovered.
They were re-arraigned on September 21, 2021 but pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Consequently, they were remanded in prison custody for four years.
During their trial, the prosecution called a witness and tendered some exhibits to prove the allegations against the convicts.
However, when the case was called yesterday, The state’s counsel, Mrs. O. A. Bajulaiye and defendants’ counsel, Ms. Anthonia Otsokwa informed the court that defendants have decided to change their plea.
The judge, therefore, ordered that their plea be taken afresh and it was read to them in Yoruba language, they pleaded guilty to the two-count charge.
Bajulaiye, thereafter reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict them accordingly. But, the defence counsel, Otsokwa, pleaded for mercy in her allocutus.