Court Sentences Lagos Gang Leader to Death by hanging

Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere has sentenced a popular gang leader identified as, Adigun Oriyomi to death by hanging. Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo sentenced him to death over multiple counts of murder, including the killing of his friend, Femi Adekeye in front of his four-year-old daughter.

Oriyomi escaped all the murder charges, except for that of his best friend whom he killed in front of the daughter.

A police source said, “The testimony of the little girl was what saved the case. After we could not establish the other murder charges due to absence of strong evidences, the small girl gave an eloquent testimony of how her father was killed in her presence. The judge tried to sway her by asking if the police prosecutor taught her what to say.

“She said yes. The judge asked what she was taught to say. She said, ‘She said (the prosecutor) I should speak the truth.’

“She narrated how Adigun (Oriyomi) entered their room with a ‘big gun’ and her father begged him to kill only him and spare the lives of his children. She told the court that immediately he shot her dad dead, she quickly carried her baby sister and ran away from the room.”

The judge, after listening to the five prosecution witnesses, who also included the deceased’s wife, brought the case to a close on Monday.

The court adopted the submissions of the state counsel, Mrs. Olayemi Sarumi and R.O. Aroyemu, and the defence, Olanrewaju Ajanaku.

Justice Taiwo said, “I find that the defendant, Oriyomi Adigun, shot and killed Olufemi Adekeye in cold blood. The prosecution has proved that the defendant was at the scene of the crime at the material time.

“The defendant was armed with a gun –AK47. The defendant intended to do grievous harm to the deceased and did cause grievous harm which resulted in the death of the deceased. The defendant callously and wickedly carried out his evil act in the presence of the deceased’s two children. The defendant also threatened to kill the children if not for the pleas of the deceased.

“The defendant had no mercy. The defendant after performing this callous act went back to the wife of the deceased to boast of his evil accomplishment. By the power invested in me, I evoke the provisions of Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2011. By virtue of Section 301(1)(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos, 2011 decree as follows:

“Oriyomi Adigun, the sentence of the court upon you is that you will be hanged by the neck until you be dead and may God have mercy on your soul.”