CRIME: Why Killers Of UNIOSUN Students Deserved No Mercy – Court

By  Sikiru Obarayese

Justice Kudirat Akano of an Osogbo High Court said the killing of Timilehin Sonibare, a 400-level Microbiology student of Osun State University by ritualists was pathetic, as he sentenced three perpetrators of the crime to death.

AbdulRafiu Zakariyahu, 20, Yusuf Kareem, 19, AyubaIbrahim, 21, were sentenced to death for murder of Timilehin in Osogbo on July 26, 2017.

The court also sentenced the trio who are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents to 7 years jail term for conspiracy and two years for misconduct.

The Judge in her judgement also sentenced Abdulkareem Adeoti, 50, to two years imprisonment for misconduct of the deceased corpse.

Timilehin, was said to have been declared missing for a week, only for the police to discover that he was killed by a 19-year old Sakariyahu and one Yahya who is still at large.

According to the state prosecution, the offences contravened provisions of sections 516, 319(1) and 519 of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol 11, laws of Osun State, 2002.

They had pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

While delivering her judgment, Justice Akano held that, with the totality of evidence and statement of the accused, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd accused persons, Zakariyahu, Kareem and Ibrahim respectively, caused the death of the deceased.

She affirmed that the 1st convict had admitted in his confessional statement that he killed Timilehin, while the prosecution had proved the case against the 2nd and 3rd accused as accomplices in the killing.

The court, however, ruled that there was no concrete evidence before the court that the 4th and 5th accused, Isiaka Yusuf, popularly called Jafariyah and Adeoti respectively were involved in the killing of the undergraduate student.

The court then convicted the 5th accused person, Adeoti, for aiding the escape of one Yahya who is now at large, saying “the 5th accused is the godfather of the criminals”. 

Justice Akano averred that “he did not make effort to report to the police five days after he was aware of the killing, which assisted Yahya to escape”.

The judge ruled, “the 1st, 2nd, and 3nd did not show mercy with the deceased. They roasted the head in a pot. Timilehin could have been the future glory of his family, his father is a teacher in a government school, while waiting for his son to go and serve his fatherland, he was deprived of his joy.

“This is rampant in our society and it needs solution. The 1st convict, with no remorse and with pride explained how Timilehin was murdered with a pestle, severed his head and roasted it with intent to use it for ritual. He showed no mercy that’s why this court will show no mercy. “

Meanwhile, the court discharged the 4th accused, a 40-year old Isiaka Yusuf who is the leader of JafariyahIslamic group, saying that there was no evidence against him before the court.

She thereby sentenced the 5th accused to two years imprisonment, saying the jail term should run concurrently.