By Nofisat Marindoti
A High Court sitting in Ikirun, State of Osun, has sentenced a 25-year-old man, Tajudeen Ganiyu, to death by hanging for killing a 4-year-old boy, Tesleem Bakare.
According to the Information Officer, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Opeyemi Bello, Justice Jide Falola, recalled that the convict took the victim from his grandmother, Mrs. Raliatu Bakare, with the excuse of buying groundnut for him.
He was said to have ran away with the boy before he was arrested by some youths who were launched to search for the boy by his father, Isiaka Bakare.
“The convict was eventually arrested and taken to the palace of Aragbiji of Iragbiji, where he was handed over to the police. He confessed to the police to have killed the boy and led them to the bush at Iragbiji where they found the remains of the boy.”
The convict was arraigned in October 2017 for conspiracy and murder, during which he admitted guilty of the murder charge.
The court noted that the convict, during his trial on February 14, 2018, admitted guilty of murder but claimed to be mentally challenged.
Justice Falola stated that the convict could not give a satisfactory evidence of where he had been confirmed or treated for mental problem.
“The accused did not exhibit any sign of insanity in the box as observed by the court. He answered all questions satisfactorily in the box during the proceeding.”
The court submitted that the young boy was slaughtered like a ram and thereby convicted the accused as charged.
The Legal Aid Council, who represented the convict, Mrs. Esther Napoleon, prayed the court to be merciful in sentencing the convict, noting that he was a first offender.
Justice Falola however, ruled that the convict should be hanged by the neck till he dies. He advised parents to be extra-vigilant and be careful of leaving their children to strangers.
The Principal State Counsel, Mr. Jacob Ayanyemi, commended Justice Falola for delivering the judgement without fear.