Emmanuel Thomas l Monday, March 27, 2023
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Joseph Ogbu, a helper to Adejoke John, an 89 year old grandmother was today convicted and sentenced for killing his boss and her daughter, Oreoluwa at their home in Surulere, Lagos.
Justice Modupe Nicole-Clay found the defendant guilty of three-counts charge of armed robbery and murder, preferred against him by the Lagos State Government. The defendant killed Adejoke John in June 19, 2019 by strangulating her to death and stabbing Oreoluwa, her daughter to death.
He pleaded not guilty when arraigned on October 22, 2019, to a three-count charge of armed robbery and murder, contrary to Section 222 and 297 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Ogbu, who armed himself with a knife, robbed Adejoke John of her Toyota Camry saloon car, with Registration No. FST 104 CW, LG plasma TV, Motorola handset, one Gionee handset, one Nokia phone, one i-Tel Phone and one power bank at 4, Ogunlana Drive, Surulere area of the state at 9:30 p.m.
Justice Nicole-clay held that the defendant confessed to the crime. “He killed one Adejoke by strangling her, and one Oreoluwa by stabbing her to death.I have considered the evidence of the security guard, an Okada man, one Yahya Ibrahim, the house help and a police Inspector.
According to her the convict admitted to living with them and he was the only witness of the incident. She stated that the defence did not raise objection to the admissibility of the confessional statement.
“There’s no doubt that the defendant confessed to the crimes”, she said, adding that the defendant could not give explanation of what he was doing with all the stolen items he was found with as at about 2:00a.m on the date he was arrested.
“The evidence are shown to the satisfaction of this court and the court has established guilt against the defendant. He is hereby guilty as charged.”
After convicting him, the judge told the Joseph Ogbu, “I have to hear from you, you have been found guilty. The convict replied in Pidgin English, “The mama no die for my presence. I beg for mercy,” clasping his hand to his face.
In his allocutus, the defence counsel, Mr. Moses Enema told the judge, “The defendant is a first time offender, a son to a young widow, largely dependent on this son.
“In the course of the trial, my lord, the defendant was very remorseful, it’s an indication that he is willing to turn a new leave. We do pray the court to temper justice with mercy.
Sentencing him to death for all the three counts, Justice Nicole-Clay pronounced, “This court has found Joseph Ogbu guilty of these heinous crimes, you are hereby sentenced to death by hanging. May God have mercy on your soul.
