Ondo Court sentences man to death for killing roommate over door dispute

An Ondo State High Court in Akure has sentenced Sunday Omoniyi, a middle-aged man, to death by hanging for fatally stabbing his roommate, Michael Oyebanji, during a dispute about closing the door.

Omoniyi was arraigned on a one-count charge of murder contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

One of the prosecution witnesses, Ismaila Adefaka, told the court that both the defendant and the deceased were his tenants, and explained that the incident occurred on July 23, 2022 at about 6:30am at 4, Canaanland, Ijoka Road in Akure.

Adefaka said that he suddenly heard noises which forced him to trace the uproar to the defendant’s apartment, where he met the deceased in a pool of his blood, with the defendant with a knife stained with blood.

According to him, the defendant had stabbed the deceased on the chest before his arrival at the scene of the incident, adding that he lodged a formal complaint to the police after the deceased was confirmed dead at the hospital.

Other occupants of the house who include Adedeji Gift, Adedugbe Opeyemi and Aremu Opeyemi, also told the court that the defendant and the deceased had an argument in the early hours of the day morning over the closing of the door, but said the argument was resolved.

The witnesses stated that after they had left the room, they suddenly heard the deceased’s voice and rushed back into the room, only to meet him on the floor in pool of his blood and the defendant with a knife in his hand stained with blood.

According to Adedugbe Opeyemi, the defendant confessed to have stabbed the deceased in retaliation for a fist blow on him by the late Oyebanjil.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Fisayo Oladepo, told the court that following his arrest, Omoniyi Sunday confessed in a statement to have committed the offence.

In his judgment, Justice W.R. Olamide said that the prosecution successfully proved the case of murder against the defendant and sentenced the defendant to death by hanging.

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