Three sentenced to death by hanging for killing one-year girl in Ondo

An Ondo State High Court in Akure on Thursday sentenced three men to death by hanging for kidnapping and killing a one and half year-old girl, Rachael Akingboye.

The convicted middle-aged men were Olusegun Obaro, Jonah Lase and Theophilus Friday.

Justice Olusegun Odusola ordered that the convicts be hanged after they were found guilty on a two-count charge of kidnapping and murder.

“The offence for which the accused were charged is strict liability offence; death penalty is the punishment for each of the counts.

“Having found the first and second accused persons guilty on both counts, the third accused is guilty of murder.

“I hereby sentence Olusegun Obaro, Jonah Lase and Theophilus Friday to death by hanging,” Odusola said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victim was kidnapped from her mother by Obaro and Lase and handed over to Friday who sent them.

The victim’s body was found very close to her mother’s house with her right ear, right eye, right breast and right part of her scalp removed.

The three accused were apprehended by residents of the community and handed over to the Igbokoda Police Station after confessing to the crime.

They were said to have committed the offence on June 17, 2011, at Ikoriho in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.

Kidnapping is punishable under section 3 of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Abduction Law, 2010.

Murder, on the other hand, is contrary to section 316 and punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006. (NAN)