Ondo High Court Delivers Death Sentence in Houseboy Murder Case
Justice Rotimi Olamide of the Ondo State High Court, Akure Judicial Division, has handed down a death sentence to 21-year-old houseboy Emmanuel Akpan for the murder of his employer, Mrs Febisola Caroline Adedayo. The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Charge No: AK/57C/2022, found Akpan guilty beyond reasonable doubt, while his co-defendant, Goodness James Akpe, was discharged and acquitted due to a lack of sufficient evidence directly linking him to the crime.
Details of the Crime and Legal Proceedings
The case, prosecuted by the Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, involved two counts: conspiracy to commit murder and murder, under Sections 324, 316, and 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Laws of Ondo State, 2006. The incident occurred on March 29, 2021, at Ifakanbale Street, Sabo, in Ondo town, where the deceased, a food vendor, was attacked in her residence at night.
According to the prosecution, Akpan and Akpe conspired to kill Mrs Adedayo, with Akpan carrying out the act by inflicting fatal machete cuts on her neck, which led to her death. Evidence presented in court revealed that the suspects committed the crime after discovering that the deceased had money in her house. In an attempt to conceal their actions, they set the building on fire to make it appear as a gas explosion.
Court's Findings and Sentencing
In his judgement, Justice Olamide emphasized that the testimonies of prosecution witnesses were credible, consistent, and unshaken under cross-examination. He noted that the confessional statements of the defendants further strengthened the case, while their denials were contradicted by the evidence. The court described Akpan's explanation regarding his arrest as unbelievable and indicative of guilt, particularly considering his conduct after the incident.
The killing was characterized as cruel and inhuman, with the court stressing that it was undeserving of mercy, especially since the deceased had previously assisted the defendants. Investigations showed that the suspects allegedly murdered their employer to steal valuables, including ATM cards, mobile phones, and a generator, before attempting to burn the house to destroy evidence.
While Akpe was acquitted for lack of evidence, Akpan was found guilty of murder and received the mandatory sentence. Justice Olamide pronounced, "The sentence of the court upon you, Emmanuel Akpan, is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and may the Lord have mercy on your soul." Both defendants were arrested in March 2021 following the killing in Ondo town.
