An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has sentenced a man identified as Kolade Tosin to death by hanging for the murder of 17-year-old Ifeoluwa Apanpa.
Justice Mojisola I. Sule delivered the judgment on Monday at Court 9 of the Oyo State High Court. The court also sentenced the convict to life imprisonment for raping the deceased before killing her in the Olodo area of Ibadan on September 17, 2022. The convict was 20 years old at the time of the offence.
During the trial, the prosecution team, led by the Oyo State Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, presented four witnesses, including the victim’s father, retired ACP Arimiyau Apanpa; her pastor, Olusegun Ajulo; Corporal Ayoade Quadri; and ASP Segun Oladunjoye of the State CID, Iyaganku.
While delivering judgment, Justice Sule dismissed the defendant’s denial of making statements to the police, stating that investigations confirmed the statement was obtained lawfully in the presence of his parents.
According to the judge, “It is a settled principle of law that a litigant will not be allowed to blow hot and cold at the same time.”
“I agree with the prosecution that the defendant’s denial of making a statement to the police during his defence is an afterthought and cannot avail him,” she added.
The court also rejected the defendant’s claims that his parents never made statements to the police, noting that he failed to call them as witnesses to support his defence.
Justice Sule held that the prosecution successfully established that the defendant forcefully had sexual intercourse with the victim without her consent before killing her.
“The defendant gave graphic details of his crimes. He told the police that he forcefully had sexual intercourse with the deceased, signifying that she did not give her consent,” the judge said.
After reviewing both oral and documentary evidence presented before the court, Justice Sule found the defendant guilty as charged.
“I hereby sentence you, Kolade Tosin, to death by hanging until you are pronounced dead. May God have mercy on your soul,” the judge ruled.
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