A f i v e – m e m b e r panel of the Supreme Court yesterday okayed death by hanging for a ritualist, one Akinola Olatunbosun, who, 10 years ago, stole and dismembered a three-month old baby, Joy Faith Olubodun, for ritual purposes.
That was after the apex court dismissed his appeal seeking reversal of the death verdict earlier passed on her by the lower courts. Justice Bode Rhodes- Vivour who delivered the lead judgment in the case held that the concurrent findings of the two lower courts passing death sentence on Akinola were faultless and should not be disturbed.
His words: "The appellant killed because he is a ritualist. He dismembered the body of Faith Joy Olubodun, a three-month old baby. He gorged out her eyes, slit the neck and disemboweled the child in the most harrowing way.
"The evidence against the appellant is one way and he agrees with it. It justifies the death sentence passed on him by Jegede J of an Ekiti High Court, affirmed by the Court of Appeal and finally affirmed now by this court.
"If ever there was a criminal appeal completely devoid of any merit whatsoever, this one scores very high marks," Justice Rhodes- Vivour held. Four other justices on the panel took turn to agree with the lead judgment.
National Mirror
Being a ritualist is first of all a very heartless thing to engage oneself in....So whatever the punishment such person receives is fine by me.