A High Court sitting in Ikirun, Osun State, on Thursday, sentenced a 25-year-old palm oil tapper, Tajudeen Ganiyu, to death by hanging for killing a four-year-old boy, Tesleem Bakare.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Jide Falola, delivered the judgement after convicting Ganiyu on the one-count charge of murder preferred against him by the state Ministry of Justice.
The convict was said to have abducted the victim, when the boy was sent by his grandmother, Mrs. Raliatu Bakare, to buy some groundnut last year in the Iragbiji area of the state.
The palm oil tapper was later arrested by some youths, who were contracted by the boy’s father, Isiaka Bakare, to search for him.
According to the Information Officer, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Opeyemi Bello, the convict was eventually arrested and taken to the palace of Aragbiji of Iragbiji, where he was handed over to the police.
Ganiyu was said to have confessed to the police that he killed the boy and later led them to a bush at Iragbiji, where they found the remains of the vicitm.
The convict was arraigned in October 2017 for conspiracy and murder, which he pleaded guilty to.
The court noted that the convict, during his trial on February 14, 2018, admitted guilt, but claimed to be mentally challenged.
Justice Falola stated that the convict could not give a satisfactory evidence about where he had been confirmed or treated for mental problem.
“The accused did not exhibit any sign of insanity in the box as observed by the court. He answered all questions satisfactorily in the box during the proceeding,” Falola noted.
The court submitted that the young boy was slaughtered like a ram and thereby convicted the accused as charged.
The Legal Aid Council’s lawyer, who represented the convict, Mrs. Esther Napoleon, prayed the court to be merciful in sentencing the convict, noting that he’s a first offender.
Justice Falola, however, ruled that the convict be hanged by the neck till he dies. He advised parents to be extra-vigilant and be careful about leaving their children in the care of strangers.
