Lagos judge sentences two brothers, son of traditional ruler to death by hanging for murder

Two brothers, Shola and Kayode Oni and one other person, are to die by hanging for the murder of one Suleiman Afolabi during a fight on  Christmas day in 2012.

Also to be hanged to death alongside the two siblings is Ibrahim Omilade, the son of a traditional ruler in Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos State, Chief Bashiru Omilade.

The incident happened at Eyin Ogun Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, in Lagos State when Suleiman received several machete cuts which led to his death.

The accused person were found guilty for the death of the deceased by Justice Kudirat Jose of  a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

Trouble began for the convicts when four years ago they were invited by a neighbor to celebrate the Christmas with him.

They said they were in the apartment of their host when a young boy came in and informed them that a brother to the deceased, Akeem Afolabi, had threatened to deal with them.

During trial, the convicts had told the court that they went to inquire the reason for the threat but that while discussing, Akeem ordered them to get away.

They claimed in their defence that Akeem had gone inside the house to get a machete with which he tried to attack one of them but that the attack was blocked  by another person whose hand was injured in the process.

The convicts claimed that it was while they were trying to dodge Akeem who was wielding a machete and coming after them that the deceased received  machete cuts in the waist region.

They said they got to know some days later that a doctor had pronounced the deceased dead.

But the trial judge faulted their testimony pointing out that it sounded rehearsed and polished.

The Nation