Court Delivers Justice for Brutal Murder of Taxi Driver
In a landmark judgment that has captured public attention, Justice Oyeyemi Ajayi of the Oyo State High Court has sentenced five individuals to death by hanging for their involvement in the conspiracy and murder of a taxi driver in Ibadan. The ruling was delivered on Monday, bringing closure to a case that highlighted the dangers faced by commercial drivers in Nigeria.
The Convicts and Their Crimes
The five men found guilty in this brutal case are: Segun Taiwo (36), Kehinde Ademola (46), Yahaya Adeniyi (45), Chinonso Samson (41), and Opadotun Michael (32). They faced a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder, with the prosecution successfully proving their involvement in the death of Akeem Shittu.
According to evidence presented in court, the tragic incident occurred on April 10, 2024, at approximately 8:30pm at Elepe, along Arulogun Road in the Ojoo area of Ibadan. The conflict began when the deceased taxi driver, Shittu, reportedly hit a motorcycle carrying two people.
The Events Leading to Murder
The court heard that what started as a minor traffic accident quickly escalated into a deadly confrontation. The parties involved attempted to settle the matter at a nearby drinking establishment, where the deceased was asked to pay N50,000 for medical treatment of the injured motorcycle passengers.
When Shittu could only produce N8,000, the situation turned violent. The convicts prevented him from leaving the scene, stripped him naked, and despite his temporary escape, they eventually overpowered him. The prosecution detailed how the taxi driver was brutally macheted to death in the attack.
Adding to the compelling evidence, Shittu's taxi was later discovered parked in front of the shop belonging to the wife of one of the convicted men.
Justice Served After Thorough Deliberation
In his judgment, Justice Ajayi stated: "Due to the reasons provided for each of the defendants and circumstantial evidence of murder, I am of the considered view that this court could safely infer conspiracy in the acts that led to the death of Akeem Shittu."
The judge handed down separate sentences for each count. For conspiracy to commit murder, each defendant received 20 years imprisonment. For the actual murder charge, the court imposed the ultimate penalty: death by hanging for all five convicts.
The prosecution team, led by K. K. Oloso, successfully argued that the offense violated Section 316 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000, which is punishable under Sections 319 and 324 of the same legislation.
This case serves as a significant example of Nigeria's judicial system addressing violent crimes against commercial transport workers, sending a strong message about the consequences of such brutal acts.
