Man, 35, to die by hanging for murder

(Nigeria) An Ado-Ekiti High Court in Ekiti State on Wednesday sentenced one Ojo Olabanji, 35, to death by hanging for killing  one Ojo Iluku.

State counsel, Mr Israel Ayoola, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 9, 2003 at No 41, Okeiyinmi Street, Ado-Ekiti.

He said the accused, on the said day, unlawfully killed Iluku by stabbing him with a sharp knife on the shoulder and stomach.

The prosecutor called seven witnesses to prove his case, while the defence counsel, Mr Niyi Idowu also called four witnesses.

The defence counsel had urged the judge to temper justice with mercy before the sentence.

The judge, Justice Ilori Akintayo, said, ``It is not in doubt that all essentials of murder had been established in the case.’’

He added that the prosecutor had done all that was expected of him to prove the case against the accused person beyond reasonable doubt.

Akintayo said that the accused person was found guilty of murder as charged.

``The sentence of the court upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead and may God have mercy on your soul’’, he said.