The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan yesterday sentenced three persons to death by hanging for the murder of Col. Anthony Okeyin, the Commandant, Nigeria Army Secondary School, Apata, Ibadan.
The convicts are Agada Solomon, Taiwo Adeniyi and Bibisoye Kehinde.
Justice Ezekiel Ajayi also sentenced the three to 14 years ‘imprisonment each for the offences of conspiracy and armed robbery.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that six defendants were arraigned in 2016 on a three-count charge – conspiracy, murder and armed robbery.
The three other defendants: Ewere Andrew, Udobata Oruza – Uzie and Ephraim Obi were, however, discharged and acquitted.
The judge found the convicts guilty on count one of conspiracy, count two of murder, and three of armed robbery.
“The first, second and third defendants gave confessional statements while the phone of the deceased commandant was found with the first defendant and are , therefore, convicted accordingly.
“The only offence of the sixth defendant, Ephraim Obi, is that his Camry car was used to commit the crime.
“However, established by evidence, therefore, Ewere Andrew, Udobata Oruza-Uzie, and Ephraim Obi are not guilty of armed robbery and are thereby discharged and acquitted,” Ajayi said.
Earlier, the counsel to the convicts, Mr F.O. Awonusi, in his allocutus, urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
At trial, the Prosecuting Counsel, Mrs K. K. Oloso, had alleged that the convicts committed the offences on December 12, 2016, at 6:15a.m.