Olufunke was killed in June 2019 in Oore, Odigbo local government, Ondo State, during a visit to her father in Akure, Ondo State.
Six months later, four suspects were arrested and prosecuted before a magistrate court before the case was transferred to the High Court by the state’s then-attorney general, Mr. Kola Olawoye.
The convicts are Lawal Mazaje from Kogi State, Adamu Adamu from Adamawa State, and Mohammed Usman from Sokoto State.
However, the fourth defendant, Auwalu Abubakar of Zamfara State, was discharged and acquitted of aiding and abetting.
They were part of an eight-man gang who ambushed Mrs. Olakunri’s vehicle on the Ore-Kajola highway on July 12, 2019, and opened fire on her, thereby killing her.
The defendants were charged with armed robbery, conspiracy, conspiracy to commit a felony, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, abduction, murder, and aiding and abetting before being convicted.
The presiding judge, Justice Williams Rotimi Olamide, held in his judgment that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Justice Olamide sentenced the three defendants to death by hanging.
Olamide said; “That you, Mohammed Shehu, Mazaje Lawal, Adamu Adamu, and others now at large on or before July 12, 2019, about 9 am, at Tollgate, along Ore/ljebu Ode Expressway, within the jurisdiction of this court, did murder one Ogunbiyi Matthew, aged 65 years, contrary to and punishable under Section 316 of the Criminal code, Cap36, Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you Mohammed Shehu, Mazaje Lawal, Adamu Adamu, and others now at large on or before July 12, 2019, did kidnap one Gerald Igboayaka, thereby committing an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 3(ii) (b) of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010.
“Conspiracy to commit armed robbery contrary to and punishable under Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Vol. 14, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004. For Armed robbery, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2) (a) & (b) of the Robbery and Firearms {Special Provisions) Act, Cop R11, Vol, 14, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
