Osan-Ekiti killing: Court acquits man of murder

By Idowu Adebomi

An Ekiti State High Court, sitting at High Court 6, has discharged and acquitted Ogboninu Sunday of a murder charge arising from the death of one Olaiya Wasiu at Osan-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The judgment was delivered on Monday, July 27, 2026, by the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Bamidele Omotoso, in Charge No. HAD/149C/2025, titled The State of Ekiti v. Ogboninu Sunday.

The defendant had been accused of killing Wasiu on June 21, 2025, following an alleged disagreement over missing buckets.

Following the incident, Ogboninu was initially brought before a Magistrate’s Court on June 26, 2025, on a holding charge. 

The trial subsequently commenced before the High Court on January 14, 2026, where the charge was read to the defendant and he pleaded not guilty to the allegation of murder.

The prosecution was represented by Idayat O. Famobio, Esq., while the defendant was represented by Barrister Oluwafemi Alonge and Barrister David Ogbede, who teamed up for the defence.

To prove its case, the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including photographic evidence.

The prosecution’s witnesses included the defendant’s wife (PW1), the defendant’s 13-year-old son (PW2), and the Investigating Police Officer (PW3).

After calling its witnesses and tendering its exhibits, the prosecution closed its case.

The defendant thereafter took the stand to testify in his own defence, focusing on self-defence. He told the court that he acted to protect his own life, contending that the deceased posed a grave threat and would have beheaded him had he not shot him.

Following the conclusion of evidence, the matter was adjourned for the parties to file and adopt their respective final written addresses. Counsel subsequently adopted their addresses, after which the court reserved judgment.

In the judgment delivered on July 27, 2026, Justice Omotoso ruled in favour of the defendant, discharging and acquitting him of the murder charge.

The judgment marked the conclusion of a closely contested criminal trial in which the defence team successfully challenged the prosecution’s case and relied on the defendant’s testimony to establish self-defence.

The acquittal clears Ogboninu Sunday of the murder charge stemming from the June 21, 2025 incident at Osan-Ekiti.