By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one Stephen Adamu to death by hanging for killing his blood brother.
The 34-year old convict was first arraigned before Justice Adekunle Adeleye, on January 31, 2025, on a count charge of murder.
According to the charge, “Adamu on September 29, 2024 in Ado-Ekiti, murdered one David Adamu, contrary to Section 234 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021.
During the trial, an eyewitness, Selfa Vengrim, who is the Chairman of Langtan tribe of Plateau State testified “Atikankan area of Ado Ekiti is part of my coverage area, I received a call that my town people were fighting and I left for the place immediately. I met Stephen Adamu fighting his girlfriend Julianah. He had wounded the girl and she was taken to the hospital.
“The deceased, Adamu David, was trying to separate them; and in the process, Stephen brought out a knife and stabbed him on the neck; when he knew that the deceased was gasping, he tried to escape, but we gave him a hot chase. He was caught and handed over to the police on patrol.
David died at the scene, while the police deposited his corpse at the morgue.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Funmi Bello, called six witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement, attestation form and a knife as exhibits. The defendant spoke through his lawyer, S.K Idowu. He called no witness.
Delivering his judgement, Justice Adeleye, held,” From the entire circumstance of this case, Stephen Adamu deliberately stabbed David Adamu on the neck.
“The necessary interference is that the defendant intended to kill the deceased. I accept the evidence of the prosecution witnesses to have established the necessary elements of the offence of murder and proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant murdered the deceased, Adamu David.
“I find the defendant guilty as charged; the defendant, Stephen Adamu is hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” he pronounced.