By Adesina Soyooye
58 year-old Mrs Funke Olakunri, lawyer, daughter of Pa Fasiranti, the immediate past National Leader of Afenifere, the Pan Yoruba Socio- Political Group, is finally at rest. Though she died young, her grieving family will find some consolation that, at least, just has been done. Her killers have been brought to book.
Olakunri was shot to death on July 12, 2019, along the Ore-Ijebu Ode Expressway on her way back to Lagos after a visit to her very aged father. Her killing shook Yoruba land, and woke everybody to the dangers along the road posed by rogue herdsmen.
Since then, those arrested in connection with her killing had been undergoing trial. It came to an end on Friday, June 10, 2022, when the suspects were finally sentenced to death by an Ondo High Court. According to the Judge, they will be put to death by hanging. The killers were prosecuted for conspiracy, murder, kidnapping and armed robbery.
Four suspects were charged to Court. But only three were sentenced to death. One of them, Auwalu Abubakar, 25, was discharged and acquitted. But to die by hanging, according to the Hon. Justice Williams Olamide, are: Muhammad Shehu Usman, Adamu Adamu and Lawal Mazaje.
The suspects prosecuted are:
*Lawal Mazaje ‘m’ 40yrs from Felele area of Kogi State
*Adamu Adamu ‘m’ 50yrs from Jada area of Adamawa State.
*Mohammed Shehu Usman ‘m’ 26 years from Illela area of Sokoto State
Auwal Abubakar ‘m’ 25yrs from Shinkafi area of Zamfara State (discharged and acquitted)
