A High Court sitting in Benin has sentenced to death by
hanging a dismissed constable, Joseph Omotosho, who was attached to the defunct
Special Anti-robbery Squad, Edo State Police Command.
Four others, Adeleke Adedeji, Abena John, Oniyo Musa and
Henry Shobowole, who escaped in the twin jailbreak during the #EndSars protest
last October, had their sentences suspended.
They were accused of conspiracy in the extrajudicial killing
of a car dealer, Benson Obodeh, in 2015 and were found guilty on eight counts
bordering on conspiracy to steal and murder.
Omotosho also withdrew N330,000 from the deceased’s account through Automated Teller Machines, having obtained the PIN number from Obodeh before he was killed.
Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele described testimonies provided by
the claimant as firm and almost unchallenged, adding, “Therefore, the judgment
was based on absolute fact, which the court absorbed as presented by the
prosecuting counsel and all witnesses that appeared before the court.”
Ovbiagele pointed out that the convicts could not substantiate counter evidence against the charges levelled against them.
Omotosho was also handed another seven years’ imprisonment
for his role in the stealing of the deceased’s money from his bank accounts.
The deceased was said to have been listed among suspected
criminal gangs, who allegedly stole a Peugeot car.
The prosecuting counsel, Abraham Oviawe, said, “What
happened today is a confirmation of the biblical position that says the wages
of sin is death. So, when one conspires to take the life of another man, with
overwhelming evidence, the court has no option but to reach the verdict it
reached.”
On his part, the counsel for the convicts, Lede Pique, said
the judgment would be appealed.
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