Justice Adebayo Yusuf of a Kwara State High Court on Thursday sentenced three artisans to death by hanging for the murder of Saheed Lawal, a fellow artisan in Offa, Offa Local Government Area.

The convicted individuals—Isiaka Jimoh, Lekan Ahmed, and Adebayo Saheed, all auto mechanics at Amuyo, Offa—were found guilty of charges including conspiracy and culpable homicide under Section 221 of the Penal Code (CAP. P4) of Kwara State.

Prosecuted by the Kwara State Ministry of Justice, the trio were accused of causing Lawal’s death on 5th November 2020. The charges, filed on 9th February 2022 by the State Director of Public Prosecutions, Ayoola Akande, also included allegations of pouring hot red pepper into the ears of another artisan, Hamzat Ibrahim, at the same workshop.

The trio was represented by Barr. Bodunrin Adewole, Dr. A. S. Ishola, and Prince J. O. Ijaodola, respectively.

Delivering judgement on Thursday, Justice Yusuf said that the prosecution called eight witnesses during the trial while the defendants testified on their own behalf and called three additional witnesses.

The court heard that “on the day of the incident, Saheed Lawal, a motor mechanic whose workshop was located at the address mentioned, was alleged by the first and second convicts (Isiaka Jimoh and Lekan Ahmed) to have stolen Motor oil.

“They, along with the third convict, Adebayo Saheed (also known as Eje), tortured Lawal until he lost consciousness.”

Dr. O.M.Abdulsalam, who was the Chief Medical Director of State General Hospital, Offa who was one of the prosecution witnesses at the trial, also told the Court that “he pronounced Saheed dead on arrival at the Hospital after conducting series of medical Examinations on him.”

In his judgment, Justice Yusuf stated that from the evidence before the Court, the three defendants were responsible for the death of Saheed Lawal, a co-artisan at the same workshop in Offa.

“I found the evidence provided by the prosecution witnesses to be credible and was convinced beyond reasonable doubt of the defendants’ responsibility for the death of Saheed Lawal.”

He however sentenced the three defendants to death by hanging until they breathed their last breath.

“Consequently, the three defendants were found guilty of the charges against them and sentenced to death by hanging. The three defendants are to die by hanging until they breathe their last breath. May God have mercy on them,” Justice Yusuf ruled.