In a landmark ruling, an Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced 28-year-old Ayodeji Alomoge to death by hanging for the murder of a man having an affair with his wife.
Alomoge stood trial on a count charge of murder, as outlined in the charge, which stated that “on 21st of June, 2022, at Ikere Ekiti, he murdered one Ogunleye Ayomide, contrary to Section 234 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.”
The father of the deceased, Ige Ogunleye, provided a harrowing account to the police, detailing the events leading to his son’s death.
He recounted receiving a distressing call informing him that his son had been brutally beaten by Alomoge and his associates. Upon arrival at the scene, he found his son submerged in a pool of blood with severe injuries to the head and mouth.
Alomoge allegedly confessed to the act, citing Ayomide’s alleged affair with his wife as the motive for the attack.
Prosecutor Kunle-Shina Adeyemo presented five witnesses and submitted various pieces of evidence, including the defendant’s statements, images of the deceased, and a medical report on the cause of death.
In his defense, Alomoge’s lawyer, Adeyinka Opaleke, pleaded for leniency from the court, emphasizing the need to consider mitigating circumstances.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice Jubril Aladejana underscored that disputes over romantic affiliations should not serve as justification for violence unless arising from a sudden and passionate provocation.
The court found Alomoge guilty of the murder charge and pronounced the verdict that he “shall be hanged by his neck until he be dead.”
The ruling marks a significant moment in Ekiti’s legal landscape and reaffirms the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for victims of violent crimes.