- Adefaka, who was the prosecution witness, said that when the incident happened, he dashed to the defendant’s apartment, where he met Omoniyi in a pool of blood after he was stabbed in the chest with a knife by the defendant.
In Ondo State, one Sunday Omoniyi has been sentenced to death by hanging for stabbing his roommate to death during a scuffle.
He was convicted and sentenced by the State High Court on Wednesday after he was arraigned on a one-count charge of murder.
Omoniyi was said to have killed Michael Oyebanji during an altercation over closing the door at their apartment in 4, Canaanland, Ijoka road, Akure, the state capital.
The crime, according to Police prosecutor, Inspector Fisayo Oladepo, contravened Section 316 and is punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
Ismaila Adefaka, who informed the court that both the defendant and the deceased were his tenants, disclosed that the incident occurred on July 23, 2022, at about 6:30am.
Adefaka, who was the prosecution witness, said that when the incident happened, he dashed to the defendant’s apartment, where he met Omoniyi in a pool of blood after he was stabbed in the chest with a knife by the defendant.
The landlord stated that the deceased was confirmed dead after he was rushed to the hospital, a development that made him report the incident at the police station which led to the arrest of Oyebanji.
Also, Adedugbe Opeyemi, Adedeji Gift and Aremu Opeyemi, who were co-occupants with both the defendant and the deceased, told the court that the defendant and the deceased had earlier that morning argued about a door but it was resolved for them.
The witnesses revealed that they suddenly heard the deceased’s voice in pain and rushed back into the room, only to meet him on the floor in a pool of his blood and the defendant with a knife in his hand, stained with blood.
According to Adedugbe Opeyemi, the defendant confessed to having stabbed the deceased in retaliation for a fist blow on him by the late Oyebanjil.
With the Police prosecutor informing the court that Omoniyi confessed in a statement to have committed the offence, Justice W.R. Olamide in his judgment stated that the prosecution proved the case of murder against the defendant and subsequently sentenced the defendant to death by hanging
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