By Deborah Nnamdi
A High Court in Akure, Ondo State, has sentenced Sunday Omoniyi, a middle-aged man, to death by hanging for the murder of his co-tenant, Michael Oyebanji.
Omoniyi was charged with one count of murder, contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
According to witness Ismaila Adefaka, who owned the house, the incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. on July 23, 2022, at No. 4, Canaanland, Ijoka Road, Akure. He testified that he was alerted by a commotion and rushed to Omoniyi’s room, where he found Oyebanji lying in a pool of blood. Adefaka said he reported the incident to the police after Oyebanji was confirmed dead at the hospital.
Other tenants — Adedeji Gift, Adedugbe Opeyemi, and Aremu Opeyemi — testified that the two men had argued earlier that morning over whether or not the door to the house should be closed. They said the argument seemed to have been settled before the stabbing occurred.
One witness stated, “After we left, we suddenly heard shouting. When we returned, we found Oyebanji bleeding on the floor, and Omoniyi was holding a bloodstained knife.”
Adedugbe Opeyemi added that Omoniyi admitted to stabbing Oyebanji in retaliation after the deceased punched him during the argument.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Fisayo Oladepo, told the court that Omoniyi confessed to the crime during police interrogation.
In his judgment, Justice W. Olamide ruled that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt and accordingly sentenced Omoniyi to death by hanging.
