An Ogun State High Court sitting in Kobape, Abeokuta, on Monday sentenced Lekan Adekanbi, Ahmed Odetola, and Waheed Adeniyi to death by hanging for the brutal murder of Kehinde Fatinoye, his wife, Bukola Fatinoye, and their son, Oreoluwa, on January 1, 2023.
The horrific crime occurred at the Fatinoye family’s Ibara GRA residence, shortly after the couple returned from a crossover service.
Led by their driver, Adekanbi, the assailants invaded the home around 2 a.m., killing the couple before setting their bodies and house on fire.
The tragedy deepened when the attackers tied up Oreoluwa and an adopted son before throwing them into the Ogun River.
While Oreoluwa tragically drowned, the adopted son managed to escape.
During police investigations, Adekanbi confessed that he orchestrated the attack after the Fatinoyes refused to increase his salary or grant him a loan to buy a motorcycle.
“I took the step because the couple refused to increase my salary, and when I approached them for a loan, they didn’t oblige,” he admitted.
Adekanbi revealed that he enlisted Odetola and Adeniyi to help him carry out the crime.
The trio ambushed the couple as they returned home, forcing Kehinde Fatinoye to transfer ₦1,102,000 to Adekanbi’s bank account at gunpoint. Fearing exposure, they decided to kill the family.
Adeniyi slaughtered Kehinde Fatinoye with a knife, while Adekanbi killed Bukola Fatinoye with a sledgehammer.
They then attempted to eliminate all witnesses by throwing the couple’s son and adopted son into the Ogun River, but the adopted son survived.
Following the crime, Adekanbi initially escaped from police custody after faking an illness.
However, he was eventually tracked down and arrested in Abeokuta on January 21, 2023. His accomplices, Odetola and Adeniyi, were later captured in Ogere on February 9, 2023.
The suspects, all members of the Aiye confraternity, faced 24 charges, including armed robbery, murder, arson, and perverting the course of justice. They pleaded not guilty.
However, Justice Basirat Adebowale ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“You, Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi, for killing a father, mother, and son, do not deserve mercy.
You are hereby sentenced to be hanged by the neck until you are dead or by lethal injection. May God have mercy on your souls,” she declared.
Other individuals involved in the case received varying sentences:
Temitope Fadairo (Adekanbi’s wife) was sentenced to two years for hiding her husband.
Adenike Adekanbi (Adekanbi’s mother) received a one-year sentence for giving false information to the police.
Azeez Usman, the welder who dismantled the stolen vehicle, was sentenced to 14 years for handling stolen property.
Anuoluwapo Owolaja was sentenced to two years.
Abass Odetola and Lukmon Adewusi were discharged of all charges.
Chief State Counsel, Adefisoye Temilola, provided details of the crime, revealing that the trio robbed the Fatinoyes while armed with a gun, hammer, and cutlass.
“The defendants robbed Mr. Fatinoye of ₦1.102 million and a Hyundai vehicle worth ₦12 million.
They also robbed Mrs. Bukola Fatinoye of phones valued at ₦1 million before murdering the couple and setting their house ablaze,” Temilola said.
The verdict brings closure to a case that shocked the nation, ensuring justice for the Fatinoye family.