Ondo State high courts sentences three men to death for killing Afenifere leader Pa Fasoranti's daughter

THREE men have been sentenced to death by hanging or firing squad by an Ondo State High Court after they were found guilty of the murder of Mrs Funke Olakunri the daughter of Afenifere leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti three years ago.

Justice Williams Olamide sentenced the men to death by hanging or firing squad on charges bothering on conspiracy to kill, murder, kidnapping and armed robbery. Muhammed Shehu, Mazaje Lawal and Adamu Adamu, who were also accused of killing a hunter in the forest, were found guilty of all the count charges brought against them.

However, the court discharged and acquitted the fourth defendant, Auwalu Abubakar, 25, who was charged with aiding and abetting. On July 12 2019, the three suspects murdered Mrs Olakunri, 58, at Ore along the Benin-Sagamu Expressway and that same day also killed one Ogunbiyi Matthew aged 65 and kidnapped one Gerald Igboayaka.

After months of tracking and investigation, the killers were arrested on April 6, 2020, by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force. Justice Olamide who commiserated with the victim’s family urged the government to urgently do something about the growing insecurity situation in the country which he said had led to many paying the supreme price.