Court acquits Oyo ex-lawmaker, three others over death of ‘Sugar’

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan yesterday discharged and acquitted the Chief Whip in the Eighth Oyo State House of Assembly, Olafisoye Akinmoyede, over the murder of a member of the House of Representatives in the last general elections, Temitope Olatoye, popularly known as ‘Sugar’ and three others.

Akinmoyede, Alhaji Rafiu Alimi, Alhaji Rasheed Oladele and Kazeem Ayinde stood for trial on a two-count charge on an alleged involvement in the death of Olatoye who was shot dead during the March 9, 2019 Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections.

Justice Mufutau Adegbola, who delivered the judgment in suit No. I/70c/2019 said the prosecution counsel had not provided any of the ingredients of murder to connect the accused with the murder of the deceased.

The judge added that a star witness in the case and also a younger brother to the deceased, Mr. Olajide Olatoye, when putting on oath, submitted that none of all the four accused persons 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 charge and consequently acquitted all the four accused persons with no cost.

In a reaction, counsel to the defendants, Michael Lana, who was represented by Adeboye Adetayo, commended the judge for a well-considered judgment, adding that the defendants have been found not to be guilty of the charges against them.

Akinmoyede said that God had vindicated him over the allegation levelled against him on the death of ‘Sugar’, stressing that today truth has finally prevailed with the court’s verdict that acquitted and discharged him.

The former chief whip, who used the occasion to once again commiserate with the family, friends and associates of Olatoye 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 profound appreciation to all the traditional institutions in Lagelu Local Council, leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the council, his family, friends, religious leaders and the entire Lalupon indigenes led by Oribayo Okeyode for their support and prayers throughout the period of the litigation.

He urged the people in the state to continue to support the present administration of Governor Seyi Makinde to enable him achieve his lofty agenda.