- Guilty verdict based on confession and circumstantial evidence
- Suspicious behavior and lack of convincing explanations strengthened the case
An Ikeja High Court has sentenced Jeffrey Ehizojie, a 30-year-old hotel worker, to death by hanging for the murders of his employer, Olusola Olusoga, and the hotel manager, Tunji Omikunle, in Lagos.
Justice Oyindamola Ogala announced the judgment on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, stating that the prosecution had successfully proven the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Mrs. Ogala found Ehizojie guilty of physically assaulting and strangling the Managing Director of Etsahol Hotel and Suites, located at Ojodu-Berger, Lagos.
She emphasized that the crux of the prosecution’s case relied on the defendant’s confessional statement, supported by circumstantial evidence.
The court duly considered the retracted defense statement, which was admitted as evidence. In this statement, Ehizojie claimed that one of the hotel staff, Henry, had informed him about the significant amount of money kept by the hotel owner at home.
Mrs Ogala said: “the defendant, in his confessional statement said that Olusoga treated her workers badly so they planned to tie her and collect her money.
“Confessional statement is the best evidence to ground conviction and as held in several cases, it can be relied upon solely where voluntary.
“It is curious that the defendant who was privy to the state of affairs in the hotel told the court that he was shocked when the police informed him of the death of his boss and the manager when he was arrested at Port Harcourt.
“There is no doubt that the defendant was present at the premises of the scene of crime as confirmed by him in his evidence in chief and exhibits before the court,”
The judge carefully examined the defendant’s evidence, including his account of leaving the hotel premises on January 25, 2019, and his questionable explanation for not returning to the hotel or reporting the incident to the police.
She noted that the convict failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for fleeing to Port Harcourt the following day until his arrest.
Based on the overwhelming circumstantial evidence, the judge concluded that it unequivocally and convincingly pointed to the guilt of the convict.
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