Man Sentenced to Death for Murdering Employer

A 21-year-old man, Emmanuel Akpan, has received a death sentence by hanging from the Ondo State High Court in Akure after being found guilty of murdering his employer, Febisola Adedayo.

The ruling, delivered by trial judge Rotimi Olamide on Wednesday, indicated that the prosecution's case was proven beyond a reasonable doubt regarding Akpan's involvement in the crime, whereas his co-defendant, Goodness Akpe, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

The case involved two charges: conspiracy to commit murder and murder, in accordance with sections 324, 316, and 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

The incident took place on March 29, 2021, on Ifakanbale Street, Sabo, Ondo town, where Adedayo, a food vendor, was attacked in her residence during the night. The prosecution stated that the defendants planned to kill Adedayo upon suspecting that she had money in her house. During the assault, Akpan inflicted fatal machete blows to her neck, resulting in her death.

Evidence presented at the trial indicated that after the murder, the suspects attempted to cover up their actions by setting the victim's home ablaze, aiming to disguise the act as a gas explosion. Furthermore, the judge dismissed the defendants' denial of involvement, emphasizing that their testimonies were inconsistent with the evidence presented.

Judge Olamide characterized the actions of Akpan as "cruel, inhuman and deserving of no mercy," particularly noting that the victim had previously aided both defendants.

Consequently, while the court freed Akpe for lack of direct evidence linking him to the murder, it found Akpan guilty and assigned the mandatory penalty.

"The sentence imposed on you, Emmanuel Akpan, is that you will hang by the neck until you are dead, and may the Lord have mercy on your soul," the judge stated.

Both accused were detained in March 2021 following the murder of Adedayo. Investigations revealed they intended to steal valuable items, including ATM cards, smartphones, and a generator, and subsequently set the house on fire to eliminate any traces of their crime.