An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced a 28-year-old man, Ayodeji Alomoge, to death by hanging for killing a man having affairs with his wife.
Alomoge, who was tried on a count charge bordering on murder, according to the charge, had “on 21st of June, 2022 at Ikere Ekiti murdered one Ogunleye Ayomide, contrary to Section 234 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.”
Father of the deceased, Ige Ogunleye, in his statement to the police, said that he got a call that his son (the deceased) “has been beaten to pulp by Alomoge and his gang, I rushed down to the place, I met my son in the pool of his own blood with various degrees of injury on the head and mouth.
“I also met Alomoge being held by some people. I asked him the reason for his action, and he said Ayomide had been having affairs with my wife, and he had warned him to desist or else he would kill him.
“I took him (Ayomide) to a nearby hospital and later to the University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, where he later died.”
The prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called five witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements, pictures of the deceased, and a medical report of the cause of death as exhibits.
The defendant spoke in his defence through his lawyer, Adeyinka Opaleke, who pleaded to the court to temper justice with mercy. He called no witnesses.
In the court judgment on Thursday, Justice Jubril Aladejana said, “It would appear to me that rivalry between men over the affection of a woman should not be a ground to justify provocation, except the situation is such that it is sudden and leading to a heating of passion.
“I consequently find the defendant guilty of the murder charge against him and therefore convicted as charged.”
The court pronounced that “Ayodeji Alomoge shall be hanged by his neck until he be dead.”
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
