An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti Division made a decision on Tuesday to acquit and release four individuals who had been accused of conspiracy, murder, and armed robbery. The defendants, Abdulahi Oladepo (30), Momolosho Olanrewaju (27), Jimoh Azeez (29), and Ibrahim Adebisi (29), were brought before Justice Jubril Aladejana on March 24, 2023, facing charges related to events in Ido Ekiti, Ido/Osi Local Government of Ekiti State, on June 28, 2022.
The charges alleged that “The defendants on 28th June, 22 at Ido Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government of Ekiti State, did conspire to commit murder by killing Ajayi Shola, and also robbed him.” These charges were based on Sections 244, 233, and 312 (2)(b) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
According to the statement provided by a brother of the deceased to the police, “On enquiry from some of our neighbors about my brother’s whereabouts, I was told they saw him with the defendants in the afternoon, I went to their (defendants’) individual houses including that of their wives, but they denied knowing anything about his movement since they departed.”
During the trial, the prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented seven witnesses and submitted statements from the defendants and photographs of Ajayi Shola as evidence. In defense, the defendants’ lawyers—Opeyemi Ogunremi, J.S. Balogun, and Adeyinka Opaleke—made their case without calling any witnesses.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Jubril Aladejana emphasized, “In this case, there is nothing to show that any of the defendants caused the death of Ajayi Shola or had any intention to harm him or anyone else grievously. This case, as argued by the defendants’ counsels, appears to be based on suspicion and conjecture. The law is clear that suspicion alone is insufficient grounds for conviction.”
“Given the gaps in the prosecution’s case against the defendants, I am convinced that they have not proven conspiracy, armed robbery, or murder beyond reasonable doubt. Therefore, I find each of the four defendants not guilty of the charges of conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder. They are hereby discharged and acquitted,” the judge concluded.
This decision marks the conclusion of a legal process that began with serious allegations but ultimately did not find sufficient evidence to support the charges against the defendants.
