Five men have been sentenced to death by hanging in Oyo State after being found guilty of murdering a taxi driver in a violent dispute that escalated from a road accident.
Justice Oyeyemi Ajayi of the Oyo State High Court announced the verdict on Monday, convicting Segun Taiwo (36), Kehinde Ademola (46), Yahaya Adeniyi (45), Chinonso Samson (41), and Opadotun Michael (32) on charges of conspiracy and murder.
The court heard that on the evening of April 10, 2024, Akeem Shittu collided with a motorcycle carrying two people in Ojoo, Ibadan. The resulting altercation, which began at a nearby pub, saw Shittu pressured to pay N50,000 in compensation. He initially offered N8,000, but the dispute quickly turned violent. Witnesses said he was stripped and later attacked with a machete, leading to his death. His taxi was later discovered outside a shop owned by one of the accused’s wives.
Justice Ajayi emphasised that the circumstances clearly pointed to a coordinated plan. “Considering the evidence and the actions of the defendants, the court infers a conspiracy in the killing of Akeem Shittu. Each defendant is sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy and to death by hanging for the murder,” the judge ruled.
The prosecution, led by Mrs K. K. Oloso, argued that the case violated Sections 316, 319, and 324 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State (2000).
