5 sentenced to death over lawyer’s murder in Edo

The Edo State High Court in Benin City has sentenced five persons to death by hanging for their involvement in the killing of a lawyer, Iyoha Osobase. Six defendants were arraigned before the court in 2020 over the murder of the legal practitioner. Five were convicted, while one was discharged and acquitted. Delivering judgment on […]

The Edo State High Court in Benin City has sentenced five persons to death by hanging for their involvement in the killing of a lawyer, Iyoha Osobase.

Six defendants were arraigned before the court in 2020 over the murder of the legal practitioner. Five were convicted, while one was discharged and acquitted.

Delivering judgment on Thursday in suit number B/CD/136C/22, Justice Efe Ikpomwonba held that the prosecution proved its case against the five defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.

The court consequently convicted them on charges bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping and murder, and sentenced them accordingly, including the death penalty by hanging.

The sixth defendant, Solomon Esuike, was discharged and acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence linking him to the crime.

The court held that the evidence presented by the prosecution established the guilt of the convicted persons beyond a reasonable doubt.

Osobase was reportedly abducted by the convicts on May 9, 2020, beaten to death and buried in a shallow grave in the Aduwawa area of Benin City.