5 to die by hanging for killing taxi driver in Ibadan

The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has sentenced five persons to death by hanging over the murder of a taxi driver in the state capital.

The convicts — Segun Taiwo, 36; Kehinde Ademola, 46; 45-year-old Yahaya Adeniyi; Chinonso Samson, 41; and 32-year-old Opadotun Michael — were convicted on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder on Monday, November 24, 2025.

The presiding judge, Justice Oyeyemi Ajayi, found the convicts guilty and sentenced them to death by hanging.

Delivering judgement, Justice Ajayi said: “In the final analysis, I sentenced each of the defendant to 20 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder.

“Then on count two, each of the defendant is sentenced to death by hanging.”

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The State Counsel led by K. K. Oloso told the court the convicts and others at large, on April 10, 2024, conspired and murdered one Akeem Shittu by inflicting matchet cut on him.

She said Shittu, a taxi driver, hit a motorcycle transporting two persons in Ibadan.

According to her, this led to an argument which they tried to settle at a nearby pub.

Oloso said: “The deceased was asked to pay N50,000 to treat them but he gave them N8,000. He was not allowed to leave the scene, after which he was stripped naked but he later escaped from them.

“He was however overpowered and macheted to death while his taxi was later found in front of one of the convicts’ wife’s shop.”

The Star