Lagos Prince Oyekan sentenced to death for the murder of a politician

Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has sentenced Prince Adewale Oyekan to death for the murder of a 62-year-old businesswoman who is also a politician. The victim was strangled to death and her body was dumped in a well at her Lagos home on 17 October 2012.

Justice Raliatu Adebiyi of Ikeja High Court passed the sentence for the crime committed by the son of the late Oba of Lagos, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, for the murder of Alhaja Sikirat Ekun, a 62-year-old businesswoman and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

50-year-old Prince Oyekan was sentenced along with his cohort 27-year-old Lateef Balogun, a domestic staff of the deceased, who was hired for N6,000 to carry out the murder of his employer.

The court learned that the convicts murdered Alhaja Ekun by strangling her and throwing her corpse into a well that is about 1,000-feet deep in her premises.

Justice Adebiyi, while delivering his judgment held that the prosecution has proved the charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder beyond any reasonable doubt.

“The circumstantial evidence was strong and cogent. The act of the defendants in killing the deceased was intentional and premeditated.”

“The court finds that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of conspiracy and murder and are accordingly found guilty of the two-count charge.”

“Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 stipulates the punishment for the offence of murder as follows. Subject to the provisions of any other law, a person who commits the offence of murder shall be sentenced to death.”

“Same is the punishment for conspiracy to commit murder as contained in Section 231 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.”

“The above-cited provisions of the law does not give the court any discretion whatsoever in sentencing the defendants.”

“For this reason, the first and second defendants are hereby sentenced accordingly on each of count one and two to death by hanging. May God the giver of life have mercy on your soul.”

The state prosecution led by Mr Akin George had said the convicts committed the offence at 1a.m. on October 17, 2012 at the home of the deceased located at No. 5, Babatunde Lalega St., Omole Phase One, Lagos.