Oyo State High Court Acquits ’Lafi of Killing Sugar
Former Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, who today Thursday 23rd January 2020 was discharged and acquitted by a High Court in Ibadan over two count charges of murder laid against him and three others. This news is coming a few days after he celebrated his birthday.
The accused, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, Alh. Rafiu Alimi, Alhaji Rasheed Oladele, and Kazeem Ayinde were standing trial over alleged involvement in the death of late Temitope Olatoye popularly known as ‘Sugar’, who was shot dead during March 9, 2019, gubernatorial and State House of Assembly election in Nigeria.
Justice Mufutau Adegbola, who delivered the judgment in suit No. I/70c/2019 said that the prosecution counsel has not provided any of the ingredients of murder to connect the accused with the murder of the deceased, Hon. Temitope Olatoye Sugar.
Justice Mufutau Adegbola added that the PW1 who is the star witness in the case, Mr. Olajide Olatoye, a younger brother to the deceased when putting under oath, submitted that none of all the four accused was involved in the murder of his elder brother, but one Jelili Okanlomo who is still at large committed the crime.
The court thereafter dismissed the two-count charges and acquitted all the four accused persons with no other as to cost.
Counsel to the defendants in his reaction, Barr. Michael Lana who was represented by Barr. Adeboye Adetayo commended the Judge for a well-considered judgment, adding that the defendants have been found not to be guilty of the charges against them.
Reacting to the judgment, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede said that God has vindicated him over the allegation leveled against him on the death of Hon. Sugar, stressing that today, the truth has finally prevailed with the court’s verdict that acquitted and discharged him.
Hon. Lafi who used the occasion to once again commiserate with the family, friends, and associates of Hon. Sugar over his death, prayed God Almighty to continue to fill the vacuum that his death has created and granted the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
He expressed his profound appreciation to all the traditional institutions in Lagelu Local Government, leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagelu LG, his family, friends, religious leaders and the entire Lalupon indigenes led by Hon. Oribayo Okeyode for their support and prayers throughout the period of the litigation.
While calling on the people in the State to continue to support the present administration under the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde to achieve all his lofty agenda, Hon. Akinmoyede pointed out that the Governor has demonstrated his readiness to take the State to greater heights through the modest achievements he has recorded within just eight months he has spent in the office.
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