An Akure High court has sentenced two middle-aged men, Daniel Ita Effiong and Bamitale Olayemi to death for killing the former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, Prof Albert Ilemobade.
One of the suspects, Olayemi Bamitale, a former driver of late Prof. Albert Ilemobade reportedly joined Daniel Ita Effiong who was a gate man at the residence of the deceased as at the time of the crime.
The two allegedly pounced on the late Professor of Parasitology and Entomology and strangled him to death at his Ijapo residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital before escaping with his Toyota Jeep, Laptop and mobile phones.
While the Ondo State Police Command was working on the case of kidnapping, the two suspects were nabbed at Ijebu-Ode while attempting to dispose the jeep and other personal effects of the deceased at give away prices.
Following their arrest, the two were arraigned before the State High Court in Akure where Prosecution led by Mrs Sola Adeyemi-Tuki tendered in evidence confessional statements by the accused, giving graphical details of how they killed Prof. Ilemobade.
The prosecution also tendered the autopsy carried out on the decomposing body of the late Professor which confirmed fractured neck bones resulting in severe damage of his spinal cord and respiratory tracks.
Defending the accused, Kubiat Ikpidungise from the Legal Aid Council prayed the court to discharge the two suspects for lack of substantial and credible evidence against them.
She argued that there were no concrete proofs to link the two with the murder of Prof. Ilemobade than the fact that they were his domestic staff.
Delivering his judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Williams Olamide said the confessional statement of the accused at Ijebu-Ode and in Akure were enough evidence that the two intentionally killed their victim.
Justice Olamide described as an act of callousness that the accused persons standing trial could terminate the life of Prof. Ilemobade inspite of his outstanding academic career.
He therefore found them guilty of the three-count charge of conspiracy to murder, murder and armed robbery.
The judge subsequently sentenced them to death by hanging.
Speaking on the judgment, counsel to the state, Mrs Tuki said the punishment will serve as a lesson to others who do not value human lives.
On the other hand, counsel to the accused maintained that the Legal Aid Council was under obligation to appeal the judgment if they choose to do so.
One of the suspects, Olayemi Bamitale, a former driver of late Prof. Albert Ilemobade reportedly joined Daniel Ita Effiong who was a gate man at the residence of the deceased as at the time of the crime.
The two allegedly pounced on the late Professor of Parasitology and Entomology and strangled him to death at his Ijapo residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital before escaping with his Toyota Jeep, Laptop and mobile phones.
While the Ondo State Police Command was working on the case of kidnapping, the two suspects were nabbed at Ijebu-Ode while attempting to dispose the jeep and other personal effects of the deceased at give away prices.
Following their arrest, the two were arraigned before the State High Court in Akure where Prosecution led by Mrs Sola Adeyemi-Tuki tendered in evidence confessional statements by the accused, giving graphical details of how they killed Prof. Ilemobade.
The prosecution also tendered the autopsy carried out on the decomposing body of the late Professor which confirmed fractured neck bones resulting in severe damage of his spinal cord and respiratory tracks.
Defending the accused, Kubiat Ikpidungise from the Legal Aid Council prayed the court to discharge the two suspects for lack of substantial and credible evidence against them.
She argued that there were no concrete proofs to link the two with the murder of Prof. Ilemobade than the fact that they were his domestic staff.
Delivering his judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Williams Olamide said the confessional statement of the accused at Ijebu-Ode and in Akure were enough evidence that the two intentionally killed their victim.
Justice Olamide described as an act of callousness that the accused persons standing trial could terminate the life of Prof. Ilemobade inspite of his outstanding academic career.
He therefore found them guilty of the three-count charge of conspiracy to murder, murder and armed robbery.
The judge subsequently sentenced them to death by hanging.
Speaking on the judgment, counsel to the state, Mrs Tuki said the punishment will serve as a lesson to others who do not value human lives.
On the other hand, counsel to the accused maintained that the Legal Aid Council was under obligation to appeal the judgment if they choose to do so.
