By Abdul Alli
- Massive Jubilation in Ilaro
The High Court sitting in Ilaro, Ogun State, has sentenced a police corporal Moruf Awoleke, with service number 389719, to death by hanging for unlawfully killing a commercial motorcyclist, late Akanji Ahmed in June 2016 in Ilaro, the headquarters of Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The presiding judge, who found Awoleke guilty of killing the deceased, said the prosecution was able to prove with cogent circumstantial evidence that the convict intentionally killed the deceased.
The court in its ruling held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
He said, “In the circumstances, the court finds the defendant guilty of the charge of causing the death of late Akanji Ahmed in June 2016. He is accordingly convicted.
As the Yewa Connecting Minds (YCM) welcomed the Thursday 5th of July judgment with excitement as they trooped into the town to celebrate the judgement.
Commenting on the judgement, Prince Ekunola Gbenga Abraham (PEGA), who is the Coordinator of the groups in Ogun West Senatorial District of Ogun State under the aegis of YCM, an umbrella body that comprises both youths and elders in liberation movement of Yewaland, expressed happiness over the judgement, saying it was a victory for the common citizens who cannot fight for themselves but have hope in judiciary, Ekunola stated.
Pega said; We are grateful to all those who mobilized support for him (Akanji Ahmed), we thanked God that the court had vindicated Akanji and that justice has been done after two years of court process, and we are so happy because this will send a signal to security agencies who have been matching on our human right and privileges without cause, we are peaceful citizens in Ogun West, but the rate of molestation by security agencies is alarming.
You will recalled the death of Ahmed who was Killed by trigger happy officer of Ilaro division of a police, the development saw aggrieved youths in wild protest in the town. The protesters, comprising commercial motorcyclists and members of the butcher association in Ilaro, barricaded all roads around the town then. The 32-year-old Akanji, after closing from work, had gone to buy food on a friend’s motorcycle but was intercepted by three policemen who themselves were on another motorbike, accusing him of contravening the CP’s order restricting okada movement to 9pm.
It was further gathered that all efforts by Akanji at pleading with the police officers failed, as the deceased allegedly allowed the officers to take possession of the okada and in an argument that ensued, was shot by one of the policemen.