An Osun State High Court sitting in Iwo has sentenced three men to death by hanging for the murder and dismemberment of a 52-year-old woman, Asiata Yekeen, in Ile-Ogbo community of the state.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice Fatimah Sodamade, who found the three defendants—Muideen Tunji, Yusuf Muslim and Rabiu Fatai—guilty of conspiracy, murder and unlawful possession of human parts.
The case, which began after Yekeen was reported missing, shocked residents of Ile-Ogbo and nearby communities because of the brutal manner in which the crime was committed. The killing also renewed public concern about violent crimes and ritual-related offences in parts of the country.
According to evidence presented in court, Asiata Yekeen went missing after all efforts to reach her by family members and acquaintances failed. When it became clear that she could not be contacted, concern grew within the community.
Two residents, Suleiman Akorede and Yekini Suleiman, later reported her disappearance to the Nigeria Police Force and the Osun State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun, in Ile-Ogbo. This report prompted security operatives to begin an investigation into her whereabouts.
During the investigation, security operatives gathered information from residents who revealed that Yekeen was last seen entering the residence of Muideen Tunji on the day she disappeared. This discovery became a major lead in the case.
The three men were later arrested and charged to court on three counts bordering on conspiracy, murder and unlawful possession of human parts. The offences were said to be contrary to Sections 324, 319(a) and 329A(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
They were first arraigned before Justice Sodamade on January 31, 2023, in a case marked Suit No. HIW/IC/2023. At the time of their arraignment, all three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecution counsel from the Osun State Ministry of Justice, Dele Akintayo, told the court that the first defendant, Muideen Tunji, owed the deceased some money. According to him, Tunji used the promise of repaying the debt to lure Yekeen to his house in Ile-Ogbo.
Akintayo explained that when Yekeen arrived at Tunji’s residence, she met the other two defendants, Yusuf Muslim and Rabiu Fatai, who were already present in the house. The prosecution said the presence of the three men showed that the act was planned.
The prosecution further told the court that the defendants forcefully had carnal knowledge of the woman after she arrived at the house. After the assault, they strangled her to death to prevent her from raising alarm or exposing them.
According to Akintayo, the defendants did not stop at killing the woman. He said they went further to dismember her body, removed some vital parts and buried her remains in a shallow grave close to Tunji’s residence.
The court heard that as news of Yekeen’s disappearance spread within Ile-Ogbo, residents who had earlier seen her entering Tunji’s house raised alarm. This development increased suspicion around the suspects and strengthened the case against them.
Akintayo also told the court that Tunji fled his residence when he suspected that security operatives were closing in on the suspects. He reportedly hid at the residence of Yusuf Muslim, while Rabiu Fatai kept some parts of the deceased’s body in his possession.
The prosecution called six witnesses during the trial to support its case. These witnesses included security operatives involved in the investigation and other individuals who had information relevant to the case.
In addition, the prosecution tendered 13 exhibits before the court. These included the confessional statements made by the defendants during police investigation, which the prosecution said clearly linked them to the crime.
Akintayo urged the court to carefully examine the evidence and apply the full weight of the law against the defendants, arguing that the prosecution had established all the ingredients of the offences beyond reasonable doubt.
However, the defence counsel strongly opposed the prosecution’s case. Lawyers representing the defendants—J.D. Olaniyan, Adesina Olaniyan and Bayo Alade—argued that the evidence presented by the prosecution was weak and unreliable.
They told the court that much of the prosecution’s case was based on hearsay and circumstantial evidence. The defence lawyers also questioned the credibility of the witnesses and urged the court to discharge and acquit their clients.
After listening to both sides and reviewing the evidence presented, Justice Fatimah Sodamade delivered her judgment. She held that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge found the three defendants guilty on all three counts of conspiracy, murder and unlawful possession of human parts. She described the offence as cruel, wicked and a clear violation of the sanctity of human life.
Justice Sodamade sentenced the convicts to four years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder and five years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of human parts. She further sentenced them to death by hanging for the offence of murder, as provided by law.
The judgment has generated strong reactions among residents of Ile-Ogbo and across Osun State. Many described the ruling as a clear message that the law will take its course against those who engage in violent crimes.
In recent years, cases involving murder, dismemberment of bodies and ritual-related killings have continued to raise serious concern in Nigeria. Security agencies have repeatedly warned that such crimes will not be tolerated.
The Osun State Government has also increased support for security agencies, including the police and Amotekun Corps, to strengthen community safety and improve response to crime.
For the family of Asiata Yekeen, the judgment brings a measure of justice after a painful loss. While no sentence can replace a life lost, the court’s decision has provided some closure and reassurance that the law has been served.