An Ondo State High Court has sentenced a man, Sunday Omoniyi, to death by hanging for fatally stabbing his roommate, Michael Oyebanji, during an argument.
Omoniyi faced a single count of murder, accused of killing Oyebanji following a dispute over shutting a door. The offence, according to police prosecutor Inspector Fisayo Oladepo, violated Section 316 and is punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
Prosecution witness, Ismaila Adefaka, landlord of the house at 4, Canaanland, Ijoka Road, Akure, told the court the incident happened on July 23, 2022, around 6:30 a.m. He said he found the deceased lying in a pool of blood after being stabbed in the chest by the defendant. The victim was later confirmed dead at the hospital, prompting Adefaka to report the matter to the police.
Other tenants, Adedugbe Opeyemi, Adedeji Gift, and Aremu Opeyemi, testified that the two men had argued earlier that morning but seemed to have resolved it. Moments later, they heard Oyebanji cry out in pain and returned to find him on the floor bleeding, while Omoniyi stood holding a blood-stained knife.
One witness recalled Omoniyi admitting he stabbed the deceased in retaliation after being punched. The prosecutor added that the defendant also confessed to the crime in his police statement.
In his ruling, Justice W\.R. Olamide held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently sentenced Omoniyi to death by hanging.
