Metro

Court Sentences Ogun Couple, Son’s Killers To Death By Hanging

Published

8 months ago

February 3, 2025

An Ogun State High Court sitting in Kobape, Abeokuta, the state capital, on Monday 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, on January 1, 2023.

The couple was attacked at their Ibara GRA residence shortly after returning from a crossover service.

Led by their driver, Adekanbi, the assailants invaded their home at about 2am, killing them before setting the house and their bodies on fire.

They also tied up their son, Oreoluwa, and an adopted son before throwing them into the Ogun River.

Oreoluwa did not survive, but the adopted son miraculously escaped.

During an interview with journalists in February 2023, Adekanbi confessed that he orchestrated the attack because the Fatinoyes refused to increase his salary or grant him a loan.

“I took the step because the couple refused to increase my salary, and when I approached them for a loan to buy a motorcycle, they didn’t oblige,” he admitted.

He revealed that he invited two accomplices, Odetola and Adeniyi, to help him rob the couple.

“The three of us waited for the couple until they came back from the crossover service. We pounced on them immediately after they entered the house,” he said.

According to him, they forced Kehinde Fatinoye to transfer N1,102,000 to his Access Bank account at gunpoint after a previous transfer attempt to Odetola’s Kuda Bank account failed.

“When I realised that my identity had been exposed through my bank account, I decided with others to terminate the lives of the couple,” he confessed.

Adeniyi then used a knife to slaughter Kehinde Fatinoye, while Adekanbi struck Bukola Fatinoye on the head with a sledgehammer, killing her instantly.

When the couple’s son, Oreoluwa, and their adopted son, Felix Olorunyomi, walked in, the criminals tied them up and threw them into the Ogun River, Felix managed to escape.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, recounted how Adekanbi initially escaped from custody after faking an illness.

“The suspect, Lekan Adekanbi, suddenly collapsed in the cell on January 2, 2023, and was rushed to the hospital for medical care. But while receiving treatment, he suddenly jumped from the bed and escaped through the hospital fence,” Oyeyemi said.

Following a technical and intelligence-driven investigation, police tracked him to his brother’s house in Iseyin, Oyo State.

Although he had fled before officers arrived, he was later arrested 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 and callous murder of the family,” Oyeyemi stated.

Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi, along with six others, were charged with 24 counts, including conspiracy to commit armed robbery, murder, arson, and perverting the course of justice. They pleaded not guilty.

Delivering her judgment, Justice Basirat Adebowale ruled, “The trio of Adekanbi, Odetola, and Adeniyi are guilty of nine counts because the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.”

Adebowale sentenced them to death by hanging.

“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 sentences included: Temitope Fadairo (Adekanbi’s wife) to two years imprisonment for hiding her husband, Adenike Adekanbi (Adekanbi’s mother) to one-year imprisonment for providing false statements to the police, Azeez Usman (the welder who dismantled the stolen vehicle) to 14 years imprisonment for receiving stolen property, plus additional sentences to run concurrently, Anuoluwapo Owolaja to two years imprisonment, Abass Odetola and Lukmon Adewusi were discharged of all charges.

During the trial, Chief State Counsel, Adefisoye Temilola, told the court that the trio committed the crime at Karounwi Street, Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta.

“The defendants, while armed with a gun, hammer, and cutlass, robbed Mr. Fatinoye of N1.102 million and a Hyundai vehicle worth N12 million. They also robbed Mrs. Bukola Fatinoye of her phones valued at N1 million.

“After robbing the couple, Adeniyi used a knife to slaughter Kehinde Fatinoye, while Adekanbi struck Bukola on the head with a sledgehammer.

“They set the house ablaze and killed their only son, Oreoluwa, by tying his hands and legs and throwing him into the Ogun River, leading to his death.” Temilola said.

Metro

7 African Countries That Experience Snow

Published

3 hours ago

October 8, 2025

Editor

When people talk about Africa, snow is rarely part of the conversation. The continent is better known for its warm weather, deserts, and beaches than blizzards or ski slopes. Yet scattered across its vast landscapes are places where temperatures drop low enough for snow to fall and sometimes stick.

1. South Africa

Snow isn’t unusual in South Africa, especially in the Drakensberg Mountains and areas around Ceres and Sutherland.

The country even boasts a ski resort, Tiffindell, where visitors can enjoy skiing and snowboarding between June and August.

2. Lesotho

Lesotho, known as the “Kingdom in the Sky”, sits entirely above 1,000 metres in elevation. That high altitude makes it one of the snowiest countries in Southern Africa. The Afriski Mountain Resort becomes a popular destination during the winter months, offering a genuine alpine experience.

3. Morocco

In Morocco, the Atlas Mountains receive regular snowfall between December and March. The Oukaïmeden Ski Resort, located just outside Marrakech, attracts locals and tourists eager to ski or simply enjoy a mountain escape, all within view of the desert.

4. Algeria

The Tell Atlas and Aurès Mountains in Algeria get dusted with snow each winter. Towns such as Setif and Batna often experience several snowy days, creating a rare but beautiful contrast between the icy peaks and the nearby Sahara sands.

5. Tunisia

In Tunisia’s Kroumirie Mountains, particularly around Aïn Draham, snow is a familiar winter visitor. The region’s pine forests and rolling hills transform into a quiet, white landscape that feels far removed from the country’s sunny Mediterranean coast.

6. Kenya

Snow in Kenya may sound impossible, but the peaks of Mount Kenya are permanently capped with ice. Although the glaciers are shrinking, climbers still trek to the summit to witness the rare sight of snow just a few degrees south of the equator.

7. Tanzania

Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro remains Africa’s most famous snowy landmark.

Its white summit rises above the plains, a stunning reminder of the continent’s diverse climates and a view that has inspired countless travellers and photographers.

Snow might not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Africa, but it’s part of the story too. In these high-altitude regions, winter shows up quietly.

Metro

NDLEA Arrests 54 Suspected Traffickers, Seizes 1,506.57kg of Drugs In Edo

Published

23 hours ago

October 7, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested 54 suspected drug traffickers with 1,506.57kg of various narcotic drugs.

The state commander of the agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting the operational scorecard of the command in Benin City.

Ofoyeju said the seizure of the drugs and arrest of the suspects took place in the month of September.

He added that a total of 66,078,57kg of skunk cannabis were destroyed by the Command in the period under review.

The Commander, who said that the command recorded significant successes in its operations within the month, added that it was part of its concerted effort to combat drug trafficking and abuse in the state.

He gave the breakdown of the arrested suspects to include 43 males and 11 females.

He also added that during the operation six illicit plantations spanning over 26.43 hectares were destroyed.

Ofoyeju explained that the destroyed plantations were located at Ugbogui Forest, Ovia South West, Ataroro Forest, Owan West, Urohi Forest, Esan West, and Ogu Forest, Igueben Local Government Areas of the State with an estimated yield of 66,078.5715 kg of skunk cannabis.

“The command also intercepted 1,506.57kg of illicit drugs,” Mitchell stated while emphasising the command’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks operating within the state.

“The breakdown of the seized drugs is as follows: Cannabis Sativa 1,502. 26 Kg, psychotropic substances 4.27kg including tramadol 3.964kg, nitrazepam 0.087kg, Swinol 0.0445kg, Danabol (Molly) 0.1163kg, methamphetamine 0.0184 Kg, cocaine 0.028 Kg and heroin 0.014kg”, he said.

The NDLEA Commander in the state while expressing determination in the command’s campaign against drug trafficking, reiterated the importance of strategic operations in safeguarding communities and reducing drug demand.

He posited that the successs signified a critical step toward reclaiming the safety and health of citizens, as Edo State continues to grapple with the pressing issues of drug trafficking and abuse.

Metro

Army Officer Dies After Wife Allegedly Sets Him Ablaze In Akwa Ibom

Published

23 hours ago

October 7, 2025

Editor

A Nigerian Army officer, Lieutenant Samson Haruna, has died after sustaining severe burns when his wife allegedly set him on fire during a domestic dispute in Akwa Ibom State.

The incident reportedly occurred on September 22, 2025, at the Wellington Bassey Barracks in Ibagwa, Abak Local Government Area of the state.

According to a report shared on X by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama on Tuesday, the late officer, who served as a Regimental Medical Officer with the Army’s 6 Battalion, had a heated altercation with his wife, identified as Mrs. Samson Haruna, which escalated violently.

Sources cited by Makama alleged that during the argument, the woman doused her husband with petrol and set him ablaze.

Lt. Haruna was first treated at the military medical unit within the barracks before being transferred to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, where he later died from his injuries despite efforts by medical personnel to save him.

Military sources confirmed that the suspect has been arrested and remains in custody as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident.