- Three were convicted for the January 2023 murder of the Fatinoye family in Abeokuta, Ogun state
- Defendants sentenced to death by hanging for the horrific killings and arson
- Fatinoye family’s driver, Lekan Adekanbi, led the plot due to salary disputes
Ogun State High Court in Kobape, Abeokuta, has sentenced Lekan Adekanbi, Ahmed Odetola, and Waheed Adeniyi to death by hanging for the murder of Kehinde Fatinoye, his wife Bukola, and their son Oreoluwa on January 1, 2023.
During the trial which was on Monday, February 3, Chief State Counsel Adefisoye Temilola informed the court that the defendants carried out the killings at Karounwi Street, Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta.
Family driver leads brutal attack on Fatinoyes after crossover service
The victims were attacked shortly after returning from a crossover service, with Adekanbi, the family’s driver, leading the assault.
At approximately 2 a.m., the assailants entered the Fatinoyes' home, murdered them, and set both the house and their bodies on fire.
The attackers also bound Oreoluwa and the couple's adopted son before throwing them into the Ogun River. Oreoluwa did not survive, but the adopted son, Felix Olorunyomi, managed to escape.
In February 2023, Adekanbi confessed to orchestrating the attack due to the Fatinoyes’ refusal to increase his salary or grant him a loan.
“I took the step because the couple refused to increase my salary, and when I approached them for a loan to buy a motorcycle, they didn’t oblige,” Adekanbi stated.
Adekanbi, Odetola, Adeniyi sentenced to death for Fatinoye family murders
He revealed that he recruited Odetola and Adeniyi to help rob the family. Adekanbi said they forced Kehinde Fatinoye to transfer N1,102,000 to his Access Bank account after a failed attempt to transfer the money to Odetola’s Kuda Bank account.
Adeniyi then used a knife to kill Kehinde, while Adekanbi struck Bukola with a sledgehammer, killing her instantly. When Oreoluwa and Felix entered the house, they were tied up and thrown into the Ogun River, where Felix survived.
“When I realised that my identity had been exposed through my bank account, I decided with others to terminate the lives of the couple,” he confessed.
The trio, along with six other individuals, faced 24 charges, including conspiracy to commit armed robbery, murder, arson, and perverting the course of justice.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Basirat Adebowale ruled, “The trio of Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi are guilty of nine counts because the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.”
“You, Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi, for killing a father, mother, and son, do not deserve mercy. You are hereby sentenced to be hanged by the neck until you are dead or by lethal injection. May God have mercy on your souls,” she stated.
Adekanbi’s wife, mother, others sentenced for aiding in crime
Other individuals involved in the case received various sentences: Temitope Fadairo, Adekanbi’s wife, was sentenced to two years in prison for concealing her husband's whereabouts, while Adenike Adekanbi, his mother, received a one-year sentence for providing false information to the police. Azeez Usman, the welder who dismantled the stolen vehicle, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for receiving stolen property, with his sentence running concurrently with others. Anuoluwapo Owolaja was also given a two-year sentence. Abass Odetola and Lukmon Adewusi were acquitted of all charges.
The Chief State Counsel explained, “The defendants, while armed with a gun, hammer, and cutlass, robbed Mr Fatinoye of N1.102 million and a Hyundai vehicle worth N12 million. They also robbed Mrs Bukola Fatinoye of her phones valued at N1 million.
“After robbing the couple, Adeniyi used a knife to slaughter Kehinde Fatinoye, while Adekanbi struck Bukola on the head with a sledgehammer.
“They set the house ablaze and killed their only son, Oreoluwa, by tying his hands and legs and throwing him into the Ogun River, leading to his death.”
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Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Timileyin Ajayi, 32, was arrested for the murder of his girlfriend, Salome Adaidu, 24, a member of the National Youth Service Corps.
Ajayi, who confessed to the crime, claimed his actions were not premeditated and expressed no regret, sparking outrage from the public.