LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has sentenced one Mohammed Kazeem Beiwa to death for the murder of his neighbour, identified as Olokose Ojo Olushola, a few days before his wedding.
Justice S. M. Akanbi also handed down 10 years imprisonment and an N100,000 fine each to his two other accomplices, Madu Jeremiah and Mohammed Chatta, while the fourth defendant, Jimoh Abdulateef, was set free by the Court for lack of diligent prosecution.
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The accused persons are being charged with eight counts of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and illegal removal of human parts.
Prosecution counsel, led by the former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of Kwara State, Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, alleged the defendants had attacked and kidnapped the victim in his house a few days before his wedding in Ilorin and killed him sometime in 2021.
They had, after kidnapping, killing, and dismembering the victim, also negotiated for payment of ransom for his release from the family, knowing he was dead already, the prosecution told the court at the trial.
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Delivering judgment on the case, Justice Akanbi found three of the accused persons guilty of four of the criminal charges levelled against them.
He affirmed that “The defendants had caused the death of one Olokose Ojo Olushola sometime in March 2021, a couple of days before the deceased’s wedding ceremony.
“The body was mutilated, and despite knowing of the death of the said Olushola Olokose, the defendants still demanded ransom from the family of the deceased, making it appear their victim was alive and held hostage by kidnappers.
“The first defendant Mohammed Kazeem Beiwa who masterminded the horrific tragedy and was also a neighbour of the deceased was sentenced to death by hanging, life imprisonment, and 10 years imprisonment with N100,000 fine on different counts.”