An Ogun State High Court in Kobape, Abeokuta, has sentenced Lekan Adekanbi, Ahmed Odetola, and Waheed Adeniyi to death by hanging for the murder of Kehinde Fatinoye, his wife, Bukola Fatinoye, and their son, Oreoluwa. The crime occurred on January 1, 2023.
The attack took place at the couple’s home in Ibara GRA shortly after they returned from a crossover service. Led by their driver, Adekanbi, the perpetrators stormed the residence around 2 a.m., killed the couple, and set their bodies and the house on fire.
In addition, they bound Oreoluwa and an adopted son before throwing them into the Ogun River. While Oreoluwa did not survive, the adopted son miraculously escaped.
During a February 2023 interview, Adekanbi admitted he planned the crime because the Fatinoyes had refused to raise his salary or grant him a loan.
“I took this step because they declined my request for a salary increase and refused to lend me money for a motorcycle,” he confessed.
He explained that he recruited Odetola and Adeniyi to assist him in the crime.
“We waited for them to return from church, and as soon as they entered the house, we attacked,” he recounted.
At gunpoint, Kehinde Fatinoye was forced to transfer ₦1,102,000 to Adekanbi’s Access Bank account after an earlier attempt to send the funds to Odetola’s Kuda Bank account failed.
“When I realized my identity had been exposed through my bank account, I decided, along with the others, that we had to kill them,” Adekanbi admitted.
Adeniyi fatally stabbed Kehinde Fatinoye, while Adekanbi killed Bukola Fatinoye by striking her head with a sledgehammer.
Shortly after, their son, Oreoluwa, and their adopted son, Felix Olorunyomi, arrived. The attackers tied them up and threw them into the Ogun River. While Oreoluwa drowned, Felix managed to escape.
According to Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer Abimbola Oyeyemi, Adekanbi initially escaped from custody by faking an illness.
“On January 2, 2023, he suddenly collapsed in his cell and was taken to the hospital for medical attention. However, while receiving treatment, he jumped from the bed and escaped over the hospital fence,” Oyeyemi stated.
A police investigation led authorities to his brother’s home in Iseyin, Oyo State, but he had already fled. He was later apprehended in Abeokuta on January 21, 2023. His accomplices, Odetola and Adeniyi, were arrested in Ogere on February 9, 2023.
“The three suspects, who are members of the Aiye confraternity, have all confessed to their roles in the gruesome murders,” Oyeyemi said.
Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi, along with six others, faced 24 charges, including conspiracy to commit armed robbery, murder, arson, and obstruction of justice. They pleaded not guilty.
Delivering her ruling, Justice Basirat Adebowale stated, “The prosecution has presented strong evidence proving the guilt of Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi on nine counts beyond reasonable doubt.”
She then sentenced them to death by hanging.
“For taking the lives of a father, mother, and son, you deserve no mercy. You are hereby sentenced to death by hanging or lethal injection. May God have mercy on your souls,” she declared.
Other defendants received varying sentences: Temitope Fadairo (Adekanbi’s wife) received a two-year prison term for harboring her husband, while Adenike Adekanbi (Adekanbi’s mother) was sentenced to one year for providing false information to the police. Azeez Usman, a welder who dismantled the stolen vehicle, was sentenced to 14 years for receiving stolen property, along with additional concurrent sentences. Anuoluwapo Owolaja received a two-year sentence, while Abass Odetola and Lukmon Adewusi were acquitted.
During the trial, Chief State Counsel Adefisoye Temilola informed the court that the crime took place on Karounwi Street, Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta.
“The defendants, armed with a gun, hammer, and cutlass, robbed Mr. Fatinoye of ₦1.102 million and a Hyundai vehicle valued at ₦12 million. They also stole Mrs. Bukola Fatinoye’s phones, worth ₦1 million,” Temilola stated.
He added that after the robbery, Adeniyi fatally stabbed Kehinde Fatinoye, while Adekanbi struck Bukola on the head with a sledgehammer.
“They then set the house ablaze and killed their only son Oreoluwa,by tying his hands and feet before throwing him into Ogun river leading to his death.” Temilola concluded.
