Two men, Sunday Onilade and Fatai Alao, have been sentenced to death by hanging for the killing of Tochukwu Chidi, a wedding guest after celebration in Bariga.
Justice Modupe Nicole-Clay of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja handed down the judgement following the successful prosecution of the defendants recently.
The trial judge also sentenced the convicts to 14 years imprisonment for being in possession of criminal charge.
According to her, “The prosecution has successfully proved the ingredients of murder beyond reasonable doubt.”
“The evidence of the prosecution witnesses, particularly PW4, was overwhelming and credible enough to sustain conviction, “ she ruled.
Justice Nicole-Clay dismissed arguments by the defence that inconsistencies in witness testimony cast doubt on the case.
She said, “The claim of material contradiction in the evidence of PW2 and PW4 is erroneous, PW2 only specified that the object pulled from the first convict’s pocket was a knife.”
In her conclusion, Justice Nicole-Clay held, “Sunday Onilade and Fatai Alao are hereby convicted and sentenced to death on count one and to 14 years imprisonment for being in possession of criminal charms.”
During their arraignment by the Lagos State Government, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of murder and possession of criminal charms brought against them.
However, their testimonies were unmatched by those of four prosecution witnesses.
The wedding incident
The Prosecutor Mrs. Titilayo Olanrewaju-Daud, told the court that the offence was committed on February 13, 2021, at Temple Street, Bariga, Lagos.
According to her, the groom, Abimbola Bamidele, and his friends had parked to offload wine after returning from a wedding hall when they were attacked by suspected members of the Oodua People’s Congress, including the convicts.
Olanrewaju-Daud said, “They alighted from a mini-bus, armed with knives and charms, they attacked guests returning from a wedding, and during the chaos, Tochukwu Chidi was fatally stabbed.”
One of the Prosecution Witnesses, PW1, the groom, described the day as one he would never forget.
His words, “February 13, 2021, was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, instead, it became the day I lost a dear friend, the groom said in an emotionally laden voice.
Adding that while offloading wine from the wedding party, a tricycle and a mini-bus carrying OPC members tried to force their way through traffic, leading to an argument, amid the chaos, the assailants jumped out wielding charms and knives.
He said Sunday Onilade chased him with a charm but was unable to reach him due to the intervention of a neighbour.
Another witness, PW2, Fabuji Riliwan, recalled that he saw Chidi being chased with a knife and later found him stabbed on his face and neck.
Still PW3, Alex Chibuzor Nkemjika, testified that he was struck with a charm and lost consciousness. He confirmed that he also saw both convicts among the attackers.
He said, “The moment they hit me with the charm, I couldn’t talk or hear again.”
Also, PW4, Yetunde Seriki, a shop keeper, provided eye witness account of the crime.
“I saw them stab the deceased repeatedly,” she said. “I pleaded with them to let him go, but they didn’t listen. They kept stabbing him until he collapsed.”
Under cross-examination, the witness insisted, “I followed them, begging for his life. He wasn’t fighting back. He was only asking what was going on,” Seriki said.
In his defence, Onilade admitted he was at the scene and carried a charm. Alao also confirmed his presence and admitted to fighting with people wearing ceremonial outfits, though he claimed he did not know whether the person they fought was the one who died.
The defence of the defendants did not placate the judge as she noted that the witnesses consistently identified them as the attackers.
The prosecution tendered one exhibit and closed its case on February 13, 2024.
The defence opened on April 23, 2024, and final written addresses were adopted thereafter before the judgement.
