Ritual: Pastor, Accomplice, Sentenced to Death for Murdering Child

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo has sentenced a pastor, Erinmole Adetokunbo, and his accomplice, Adedoyin Oyekanmi, to death over the killing of a seven-year-old boy for ritual purposes in the Ikorodu, Lagos state.

At the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting at Ikeja, Justice Taiwo delivered the judgment following the defendants’ change of their plea from not guilty to guilty.

They had been arraigned since 2017, before the Lagos State High Court on two counts bordering on conspiracy and murder.

While reading the charges, both of them were said to have conspired to kill the seven-year-old known as Kazeem Rafiu. The incident was said to have taken place on June 7, 2017, on Oke Oniburokun Street, Odokekere, Ikorodu

Adetokunbo and Oyekanmi were said to have beheaded Rafiu and buried the head in a church. It was confirmed that the body of the minor was kept in a canal.

After the duo’s apprehension, a team of policemen was led to the church where the young boy’s head was buried.

The convicts had been in prison for four years before the re-commencement of their trial. The state re-arraigned them before the special offences court on September 21, 2021.

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At the resumption of trial, the prosecutor presented another witness to prove the allegations against the convicts. During the trial, the court was informed by the state counsel, Mrs O. A. Bajulaiye, and the defence counsel, Ms Anthonia Otsokwa, that the men had decided to change their pleas.

The charges were then read to them in Yoruba and they pleaded guilty to the two counts. Thereafter, the state counsel reviewed the facts of the case and charged the court to convict the accused justly.

Meanwhile, the defense counsel begged the court to tamper justice with mercy. Ms Anthonia Otsokwa said the convicts had understood their offence and were repentant for the allege ritual usage of the child.

Delivering judgment, Justice Taiwo said, “These defendants have committed a heinous crime and deserve no mercy. They have cruelly and intentionally killed a seven-year-old boy, depriving him and his family of a bright destiny.

“Section 222 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State imposes the death penalty for premeditated murder and I have no hesitation in imposing the said punishment.”

“I hereby sentence Adedoyin Oyekanmi and Erinwole Adetokunbo to death for killing Kazeem Rafiu. May God have mercy on your souls.”