Justice Dapo Adeniji of the Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife has sentenced a traditionalist, Taiwo Agboola, to death by hanging for the murder of a 62-year-old grandmother, Olubayo Jadesola, after an attempted rape incident in Ifetedo, Osun State.
The court found Agboola guilty of attempted rape, indecent assault and murder after the prosecution presented exhibits and called four witnesses during the trial.
Agboola, who was arraigned on November 7, 2024, had pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge, claiming that his statements to the police were obtained under duress and dictated to him by officers.
During the trial, prosecuting counsel, Barrister Ajibola Alade of the Osun State Ministry of Justice, told the court that the incident occurred on October 11, 2023, at a palm oil processing site located at Amula River in Olokemeji village, Ifetedo.
The prosecution said the deceased, alongside her granddaughter, Latifat Adeyemo, had gone to the processing site to produce palm oil for sale, while the owner of the facility, identified as Ajide Bashiru, later left the location for his farm after setting up the day’s activities.
According to the prosecution, Agboola later stormed the site and allegedly stripped himself naked in the presence of the deceased and her granddaughter, forcing both women to flee for safety.
The court heard that while the granddaughter escaped to seek help, the convict allegedly caught up with the elderly woman, stripped her naked and attacked her with a large stone and stick, leading to her death before help could arrive.
The prosecution further stated that Agboola was apprehended near the crime scene shortly after the incident and subsequently handed over to the police.
In his judgment, Justice Adeniji sentenced the convict to 14 years imprisonment for attempted rape, two years imprisonment for indecent assault and death by hanging for murder.
(The Nation)
