Court sentences three men to death for murder of woman in Osun

An Osun State High Court sitting in Iwo has sentenced three men to death by hanging for the murder of a 52-year-old woman, Asiata Yekeen, in Ile-Ogbo community.

The convicts — Muideen Tunji, Yusuf Muslim and Rabiu Fatai — were found guilty of conspiracy, murder and unlawful possession of human parts.

Yekeen had earlier been declared missing, prompting concerned relatives to alert the police and the Osun Amotekun Corps. Investigations later led to the arrest of the three suspects.

They were first arraigned before Justice Fatimah Sodamade on January 31, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by Dele Akintayo from the state Ministry of Justice, told the court that Tunji allegedly lured the woman to his residence under the pretext of settling a debt. The court heard that she was subsequently killed and her remains concealed.

The prosecution presented six witnesses, tendered 13 exhibits and relied on the defendants’ statements, urging the court to convict them.

Defence counsel argued that the evidence against their clients was insufficient and largely circumstantial.

In her judgment, Justice Sodamade held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the trio on all counts.

She sentenced them to four years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, five years for unlawful possession of human parts, and death by hanging for murder.