By Doyin Adekunle
An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has sentenced to death by hanging, Kabiru Abdalla, a 42 years old man, who claimed to be a cleric, for killing his client, Adeleke Lukman, who consulted him for spiritual advice.
The convict was charged with conspiracy, murder, and theft, contrary to Sections 324, 319(1), and 390 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 34, Laws of Osun State.
Delivering judgment, the trial judge, Justice Lateef Adegoke, held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt and sentenced him to death by hanging for murder.
The rosecution team, led by Abiodun Badiora, had told the court during trial that Ibrahim was a spiritual consultant to the deceased.
Badiora explained that the deceased had approached the cleric, revealing his intention to purchase a parcel of land, and the convict asked him to bring the money for an overnight prayer before paying the vendor.
However, after the ‘prayers’, Adeleke went missing.
During the search, his family was informed by an informant that he was last seen the day he visited the convict’s residence.
When the family confronted the cleric, he initially denied seeing the deceased for over two weeks.
However, a community member refuted his claim, stating he had taken Adeleke to the cleric’s house the day before his disappearance.
The matter was reported to the police, and during interrogation, he confessed to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) that he had murdered the deceased.
He led authorities to the Ilesa/Akure expressway, where Adeleke’s remains were found inside a sack.
One of his palms had been severed. Photographic evidence was tendered in court.
The prosecution had called six witnesses and presented several exhibits, including the convict’s extrajudicial confession.
It was also revealed that Ibrahim had stolen ₦300,000 from the deceased on August 24, 2016.
The convict’s counsel did not respond to the prosecution’s final written address.
Justice Adegoke also found him guilty of theft and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment for stealing.
