Former Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede was today Thursday, 23rd January, 2020 discharged and acquitted by a High Court No. 7, Ring Road, Ibadan over two count charges of murder preferred against him and three others.
The accused, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, Alh. Rafiu Alimi, Alhaji Rasheed Oladele and Kazeem Ayinde were standing trial over an alleged involvement in the death of late Temitope Olatoye popularly known as ‘Sugar’, who was shot dead during the March 9, 2019 gubernatorial and State House of Assembly election in Nigeria.
According to Justice Mufutau Adegbola, who delivered the judgment in suit No. I/70c/2019, the prosecution counsel has not provided any of the ingredients of murder to connect the accused with the murder of the deceased, Hon. Temitope Olatoye Sugar.
Justice Mufutau Adegbola added that the PW1 who is the star witness in the case, Mr Olajide Olatoye, a younger brother to the deceased when putting on oath, submitted that none of all the four accused was involved in the murder of his elder brother, but one Jelili Okanlomo who is still at large, committed the crime.
The court thereafter dismissed the two count charges and acquitted all the four accused persons with no other as to cost.
Counsel to the defendants in his reaction, Barr. Michael Lana who was represented by Barr. Adeboye Adetayo lauded the Judge for a well considered judgment, adding that the defendants have been found not to be guilty of the charges against them.
Reacting to the judgment, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede said that God has vindicated him over the allegation levelled against him on the death of Hon. Sugar, stressing that today, truth has finally prevailed with the court’s verdict that acquitted and discharged him.
The ex-lawmaker who used the occasion to once again commiserate with the family, friends and associates of Hon. Sugar over his death, prayed God Almighty to continue to fill the vacuum that his death has created and grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
He expressed his profound appreciation to all the traditional institutions in Lagelu Local Government, leaders and members of the All Progresives Congress (APC) Lagelu LG, his family, friends, religious leaders and the entire Lalupon indigenes led by Hon. Oribayo Okeyode for their support and prayers throughout the period of the litigation.
While calling on the people in the State to continue to support the present administration under the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde to achieve all his lofty agenda, Hon. Akinmoyede pointed out that the Governor has demonstrated his readiness to take the State to greater heights through the modest achievements he has recorded within just eight months he has spent in office.
