Court sentences 2 men to death for killing former VC of FUTA

The two domestic staff of the former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, (FUTA), Professor Albert Ilemobade, who murdered him so they could steal his Toyota RAV4 Jeep and other properties, have been sentenced to death by an Akure High Court sitting in the capital of Ondo State.

The two convicts, Daniel Itah Effiong, who was Prof. Ilemobade's gate man and the mastermind of the crime, and Bamitale Olayemi, who was the former driver of the 79-year-old former Professor of Veterinary Medicine, were found guilty of killing th octogenarian on June 21, 2015, and they are to die by hanging.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Williams Olamide, found Effiong and Olayemi guilty of the three-count charge of conspiracy to murder, murder and robbery.

They were accused of strangling the deceased to death in his residence at Ijapo Estate, Akure, and stole his Toyota RAV 4, 2013 model and N7000, before dumping his body in a store in the house before his family discovered the decomposing body a week later.

The accused were nabbed while they were looking for a buyer for the car in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, for a paltry N400, 000. It was the buyer of the car who suspected that the vehicle which value was put at N5 million at the time, who alerted the police and the suspects were arrested.

Justice Olamide held that the prosecution was able to establish and prove the case against the former domestic staff of the late professor beyond reasonable doubt and to the satisfaction of the court.

“The accused persons were callous, wicked and inconsiderate when they decided to sniff out life of an elderly person and their benefactor over his property. Against this backdrop, the accused persons do not deserve the sympathy or mercy of this court.

Law must take its cause and this will serve as a deterrent to others. The accused persons are hereby sentenced to death by hanging. May God have mercy on your souls,” Justice Olamide said.