Killers of Fasoranti’s daughter to die by hanging

By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure

The Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced three out of four persons that killed Olufunke Olakunri, daughter of Afenifere Leader, Reuben Fasoranti to death by hanging.

The three suspects, Muhammed Shehu Usman, Adamu Adamu, and Lawal Mazaje, were convicted by Justice Williams Olamide for conspiracy to murder, kidnapping and armed robbery.

Justice Olamide, while delivering the judgment on Friday in Akure, the Ondo state capital, however discharged and acquitted the fourth accused person, Auwalu Abubakar, 25 for conspiracy.

Recall that Olufunke Olakunri, daughter of Afenifere Leader, Reuben Fasoranti was shot dead in July, 2019 by gunmen in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State and she was buried few weeks after her gruesome murder.

While her alleged killers were later arrested and arraigned, six months after her death.

Addressing journalists after the judgement, the Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Titiloye, who led the prosecution expressed satisfaction with the judgement.

Titiloye said, “The court has found three of the defendants guilty, it has become very clear that the three persons conspired to commit armed robbery, murder and killing of the lady and a hunter who was in the bush when they were trying to take away those in the vehicle that was conveying Mrs Olakunri.

“There was thorough investigation that spanned through three different states of the federation, Edo, Lagos and Ondo. Cogent evidence were given by the person who was in the forest with them for seven days, particularly, the driver of the deceased who was kidnapped for seven days.”

While the counsel to the second and fourth defendants, Obafemi Bawa said he would study the judgement and possibly appeal it.

Bawa said, “You could see that one of the defendants was discharged by the judgment of the court. We are going to take a critical look at it, look at areas where appeal can be formulated.”