In a significant ruling on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, acquitted and discharged four individuals accused of conspiracy, murder, and armed robbery.
The defendants, Abdulahi Oladepo (30), Momolosho Olanrewaju (27), Jimoh Azeez (29), and Ibrahim Adebisi (29), had been brought before Justice Jubril Aladejana on March 24, 2023, facing charges related to an incident on June 28, 2022, in Ido Ekiti, Ido/Osi Local Government Area. They were accused of conspiring to commit murder by allegedly killing Ajayi Shola and robbing him.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented its case with seven witnesses and submitted statements from the defendants and photographs of the deceased as evidence.
In their defense, represented by lawyers Opeyemi Ogunremi, J.S. Balogun, and Adeyinka Opaleke, the defendants did not call any witnesses.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Jubril Aladejana emphasized that the prosecution failed to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants were involved in the crimes charged. He noted that the case appeared to hinge on suspicion and conjecture rather than concrete evidence of guilt.
Consequently, the judge concluded that there was insufficient proof to convict the defendants of conspiracy, armed robbery, or murder. He thereby acquitted and discharged each of them from all charges.