Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Lagos State Particular Offences Court docket sitting at Ikeja, on Tuesday, sentenced a pastor, Erinmole Adetokunbo, and his confederate, Adedoyin Oyekanmi, to loss of life for killing a seven-year-old boy within the Ikorodu space of the state.

Justice Taiwo gave the decision after the defendants modified their pleas from not responsible to responsible.

The lads have been arraigned on October 30, 2017, earlier than the Lagos State Excessive Court docket on two counts bordering on conspiracy and homicide.

In line with the cost sheet, Oyekanmi and Adetokunbo, on June 7, 2017, on Oke Oniburokun Avenue, Odokekere, Ikorodu, conspired to homicide a seven-year-old boy, Kazeem Rafiu.

They have been mentioned to have beheaded Rafiu and buried the top across the church’s altar, whereas the physique was saved in a canal.

Adetokunbo was later apprehended by residents. He was mentioned to have confessed to the crime, naming Oyekanmi as his confederate.

The duo led a workforce of policemen to the church, the place the sufferer’s stays have been recovered.

After 4 years of being remanded in jail, the state re-arraigned the convicts earlier than the particular offences courtroom on September 21, 2021, because the trial commenced.

On the resumption of trial for the prosecutor to current one other witness to show the allegations in opposition to the convicts, the courtroom was knowledgeable by the state counsel, Mrs O. A. Bajulaiye, and the defence counsel, Ms Anthonia Otsokwa, that the boys had determined to alter their pleas.

Subsequently, the decide ordered their pleas to be taken.

The fees have been learn to them in Yoruba they usually pleaded responsible to the 2 counts.

The state counsel, Mrs O. A. Bajulaiye, thereafter reviewed the info of the case and urged the courtroom to convict them accordingly.

Whereas begging for mercy, the defence counsel, Ms Anthonia Otsokwa, instructed the courtroom that the convicts had realised their offence and have been remorseful for the loss of life of the kid.

In her judgement, Justice Taiwo famous that the case was a pathetic one because the defendants conspired and killed a toddler by slicing off his head for ritual functions.

The decide mentioned, “These defendants have dedicated a heinous crime and deserve no mercy. They’ve cruelly and deliberately killed a seven-year-old boy, depriving him and his household of a vivid future.

“Part 222 of the Felony Legislation of Lagos State imposes the loss of life penalty for premeditated homicide and I’ve no hesitation in imposing the mentioned punishment.

“I hereby sentence Adedoyin Oyekanmi and Erinwole Adetokunbo to loss of life for killing Kazeem Rafiu. Could God have mercy in your souls.”