An Ogun State High Court sitting in Kobape, Abeokuta, on Monday sentenced Lekan Adekanbi, Ahmed Odetola, and Waheed Adeniyi to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of Kehinde Fatinoye, his wife Bukola Fatinoye, and their son Oreoluwa on January 1, 2023.

Deadly Attack on New Year’s Day

The tragic incident occurred shortly after the Fatinoyes returned from a crossover service at their residence in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta. Led by their driver, Lekan Adekanbi, the assailants stormed the home around 2 a.m., mercilessly murdering the couple before setting the house on fire. They also bound Oreoluwa and his adopted brother before throwing them into the Ogun River. While Oreoluwa did not survive, the adopted son miraculously escaped.

Confession and Motive Behind the Murder

In a February 2023 interview, Adekanbi confessed that his frustration over the Fatinoyes’ refusal to increase his salary or grant him a loan to buy a motorcycle motivated the attack.

“I took the step because the couple refused to increase my salary, and when I approached them for a loan, they didn’t oblige,” Adekanbi admitted.

He revealed that he enlisted two accomplices, Odetola and Adeniyi, to rob the couple.

“The three of us waited for them until they came back from the crossover service. We pounced on them immediately after they entered the house,” he said.

Forcing the Victims to Transfer Money

During the attack, Kehinde Fatinoye was forced at gunpoint to transfer N1,102,000 to Adekanbi’s Access Bank account, after an earlier attempt to send the money to Odetola’s Kuda Bank account failed.

“When I realised that my identity had been exposed through my bank account, I decided with others to terminate the lives of the couple,” Adekanbi confessed.

Brutal Execution of the Family

• Adeniyi used a knife to slaughter Kehinde Fatinoye.
• Adekanbi struck Bukola Fatinoye on the head with a sledgehammer, killing her instantly.
• When their son Oreoluwa and adopted son Felix Olorunyomi arrived, they were tied up and thrown into the Ogun River. Felix survived, but Oreoluwa perished.

Police Investigation and Arrests

After the killings, Adekanbi faked an illness in custody and escaped from the hospital, jumping over the fence. However, police tracked him using intelligence-driven investigations and arrested him at his brother’s house in Iseyin, Oyo State, on January 21, 2023. His accomplices, Odetola and Adeniyi, were arrested in Ogere on February 9, 2023.

Police spokesperson Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed that the suspects were members of the Aiye Confraternity and confessed to their roles in the gruesome murder.

Court Sentences and Additional Convictions

The trio was charged with 24 counts, including conspiracy to commit armed robbery, murder, arson, and perverting the course of justice. Despite pleading not guilty, Justice Basirat Adebowale ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“The trio of Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi are guilty of nine counts. For killing a father, mother, and son, they do not deserve mercy. You are hereby sentenced to death by hanging or lethal injection. May God have mercy on your souls,” Justice Adebowale declared.

Other Sentences and Acquittals

• Temitope Fadairo (Adekanbi’s wife) was sentenced to two years in prison for hiding her husband.
• Adenike Adekanbi (Adekanbi’s mother) received a one-year sentence for providing false statements to the police.
• Azeez Usman (the welder who dismantled the stolen vehicle) was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for receiving stolen property.
• Anuoluwapo Owolaja was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
• Abass Odetola and Lukmon Adewusi were discharged of all charges.

Details of the Crime as Presented in Court

During the trial, Chief State Counsel Adefisoye Temilola detailed the horrifying events of January 1, 2023:

• The defendants, armed with a gun, hammer, and cutlass, robbed Mr. Fatinoye of N1.102 million and his Hyundai vehicle worth N12 million.
• They also robbed Bukola Fatinoye of phones worth N1 million.
• Adeniyi slaughtered Kehinde Fatinoye with a knife.
• Adekanbi killed Bukola Fatinoye with a sledgehammer.
• The criminals set the house ablaze and tied Oreoluwa before throwing him into the Ogun River, leading to his death.

Justice Finally Served

The sentencing of Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi to death by hanging marks the end of a gruesome case that shook the community. While the tragic murder of the Fatinoye family cannot be undone, the court’s ruling brings some measure of justice to their loved ones and underscores the Nigerian justice system’s resolve to punish violent crimes.