2 Policemen to die by hanging for killing PDP members in Ekiti

ADO EKITI — An Ado Ekiti High Court has sentenced two policemen to death by hanging for their roles in the killing of  two members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  over allegation of  the defacement  of posters of political opponents in Omuo Ekiti about two years ago.

Fracas broke out between the PDP and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, on March 23, 2011 at Kota Junction in Omuo Ekiti over alleged defacement  of posters belonging to PDP aspirants in the community, a development that prompted police to be drafted to the scene of the incident which subsequently led to the death of two PDP members.

Miffed by the murder, a PDP chieftain in the town and now state Deputy Chairman, Hon. Femi Bamisile, with a crowd of supporters stormed the government office in Ado Ekiti and accused the state government of complicity in the murder.

The affected police officers are,    Mr Ameh Richard and Akinyode Olaiya ,  they were  said to have been found    guilty of the murder of  two PDP members whose names were given as   Kehinde Faluyi and Michael  Ipinlaye.

The trial judge, Justice  Abiodun Adesodun who in his judgement yesterday, disclosed that there were sharp  contradictions  in the evidence adduced by the accused persons, which he said had made their evidence unreliable.

According to him, there were  contradictions in the confessional statements by the accused persons during their interrogation by the police  and the oral testimonies  during cross examination in court.

Justice Adesodun noted that the evidence by the prosecution counsel, Messrs Femi Onipede and  Omope Oluwanitemi were overwhelming and convincing enough for him to grant their  reliefs.

His words: “The prosecution counsel have proved their case beyond reasonable doubt and the accused persons are hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”

- vanguard