An Osun State High Court, sitting in Ile-Ife, has sentenced a 30-year-old labourer, Taiwo Agboola, to death for killing a 62-year-old woman, Jadesola Olubayo, at a palm oil processing factory.
Agboola was said to have killed the deceased on October 11, 2023, at a palm oil processing site located at Amula River in Olokemeji Village, Ifetedo, Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State.
The defendant was arraigned on a three-count charge of attempted rape, indecent assault on a female, and murder, contrary to Sections 359, 360, and 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 34 Laws of Osun State, 2002.
Agboola was first arraigned on November 7, 2024. During the trial, the prosecution called four witnesses, while the defendant testified in his defense without calling any other witness.
Delivering judgment on Friday, May 22, 2026, Justice Adedapo Adeniji held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently found the defendant guilty of murder.
Stating the facts of the case during the trial, the prosecution team from the Ministry of Justice, led by Ajibola Alade and Omotayo Babalola, told the court that Latifat Adeyemo, a granddaughter of the deceased, had accompanied the deceased to the palm oil processing factory where she met her death.
During her appearance before the court, Adeyemo said Agboola suddenly appeared at the factory and stripped himself naked, causing panic as the two women in the premises were gripped with fear.
Adeyemo also said that she and her grandmother attempted to flee, but Agboola ran after them and overpowered the deceased.
After running to the owner of the factory, identified as Ajide Bashiru, to seek help, Adeyemo told the court that when they returned to the scene of the crime, Agboola had stripped the deceased naked and smashed her face with a stone and a stick, killing her on the spot.
She also said Agboola initially escaped but was later apprehended near the scene of the crime and subsequently handed over to the police.
Addressing the court, counsel to the defendant, Oluwaseun Akintola Philip-Idiok and Victoria Ugochi Layi-Jacob, urged the court to be lenient in its judgment.
Justice Adeniji, after pronouncing Agboola guilty of the three charges, sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment for count one, bordering on attempted rape; two years imprisonment for indecent assault; and death for count three, bordering on murder.
