The late couple, Kehinde and Bukola Fatinoye, and the convicts inset.
By Funmi AJose
An Ogun State High Court has convicted and sentenced three persons to death by hanging for killing a couple and their only son.
The couple, Kehinde Fatinoye, a former staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) his wife, Bukola Fatinoye and only surviving son, Oreoluwa, were gruesomely murdered on New Year’s Day in 2023.
The family had returned home after attending the 2022/2023 crossover service at the Christ Anglican Church, Iporo-Ake, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
A few hours after the crossover into the New Year, the assailants, led by Bukola’s driver, stormed their semi-detached apartment, killed the couple and set their bodies on fire.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Basirat Adebowale sentenced all the trio of Adekambi Lekan, who was the driver of the deceased; Odetola Ahmed and Adeniyi Waheed, to death by hanging.
The court held that the prosecution had proved its case against the three major defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court further held that the convicts were guilty of the gruesome murder of the couple and their son, and setting their corpses on fire.
Justice Adebowale also held that in the manner with which the convicts murdered the couple and the son, they did not deserve the mercy of the court as prayed by their lawyers.
Their only son, Oreoluwa, and a house help, Olorunyomi Felix, who they adopted, were tied with ropes and thrown into the Ogun River.
The family was still healing from the death of Oluwatunmise, the younger of the two sons, who had slumped and died in June 2022, while playing football.
The trio were arraigned alongside Fadairo Temitope (wife of the first defendant); Adekambi Adenike, the mother; Owolaja Aanuoluwapo; Usman Azeez, Abass Odetola and Adewusi Lukman.
The convicts were arraigned on a 24-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit armed robbery, conspiracy, murder, arson, escape from lawful custody, perverting the course of justice, and receiving stolen property, among others.