An Akure High Court Judge has sentenced to death by hanging, two domestic staff on trial for the murder of former Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Albert Ilemobade.
The convicts, Daniel Itah Effiong and Bamitale Olayemi, were the security/gateman and driver respectively of the 79-year-old former Professor of Veterinary Medicine.
“The accused persons were callous, wicked and inconsiderate when they decided to sniff out life of an elderly person and their benefactor over his property. Against this backdrop, the accused persons do not deserve the sympathy or mercy of this court,” the judge declared.
The convicts were accused of strangulating the deceased to death in his residence at Ijapo Estate, Akure, Ondo State, on June 21, 2015, stole his Toyota RAV 4, 2013 model, N7,000 and fled.
The offence, according to the prosecutor, who is the State Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs Adejoke Tuki, punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap.37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
Justice Olamide, in his judgement which lasted about two hours, held that the prosecution was able to establish and prove the case against the former domestic staff of the late professor beyond reasonable doubt and to the satisfaction of the court.
He declared: “Law must take its cause and this will serve as a deterrent to others. The accused persons are hereby sentenced to death by hanging. May God have mercy on your souls.”
It will be recalled that the two domestic staff, after they murdered their boss, dumped his corpse in a store/generator house before they fled.
Security operatives and family members of the late professor had thought he had been kidnapped until detectives in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, arrested the domestic staff while they were about to sell the stolen car for N400,000.
The dealer, who wanted to buy the car became suspicious because the market value was N5 million. He informed police and the suspects were arrested.
They led the detectives from Ogun State to the Ijapo residence of the late professor and showed them where they dumped his corpse.
-Vanguard
