An Ogun State High Court in Kobape, Abeokuta, has sentenced three men, Lekan Adekanbi, Ahmed Odetola, and Waheed Adeniyi, to death by hanging for the brutal murder of Kehinde and Bukola Fatinoye and their son, Oreoluwa.
The court found them guilty of a premeditated attack that shocked the state on New Year’s Day, 2023.
The Fatinoyes, a respected couple in Abeokuta, were ambushed in their Ibara GRA home shortly after returning from a crossover church service in the early hours of January 1, 2023. The attack was led by their driver, Adekanbi, who had enlisted the help of Odetola and Adeniyi to carry out a deadly home invasion.
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The assailants forced their way into the house at 2 a.m., subdued the couple, and proceeded to rob and kill them before setting their bodies and home on fire. Their son, Oreoluwa, and an adopted son, Felix Olorunyomi, were also restrained and thrown into the Ogun River. While Felix managed to escape, Oreoluwa tragically drowned.
Following his arrest, Adekanbi confessed that his motive stemmed from frustration over the Fatinoyes’ refusal to grant him a salary increase or 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.
He further revealed that he had orchestrated the robbery, inviting Odetola and Adeniyi to join him in the crime.
“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,” Adekanbi recounted.
The court heard that the men had initially forced Kehinde Fatinoye to transfer ₦1,102,000 to Adekanbi’s Access Bank account after a failed attempt to send the money to Odetola’s Kuda Bank account.
“When I realised that my identity had been exposed through my bank account, I decided with others to terminate the lives of the couple,” Adekanbi confessed.
In a gruesome act of violence, Adeniyi used a knife to slit Kehinde Fatinoye’s throat, while Adekanbi smashed Bukola Fatinoye’s head with a sledgehammer, killing her instantly.
When Oreoluwa and Felix walked in, the assailants tied them up and dumped them into the Ogun River. While Felix miraculously survived, Oreoluwa drowned.
Police investigations revealed that Adekanbi had initially escaped from custody by faking an illness on January 2, 2023.
“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,” Police Public Relations Officer Abimbola Oyeyemi disclosed.
Authorities launched an intensive manhunt, tracking Adekanbi to his brother’s house in Iseyin, Oyo State. Though he initially fled, he was eventually arrested in Abeokuta on January 21, 2023.
His accomplices, Odetola and Adeniyi, were apprehended 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 confirmed.
The three men faced a 24-count charge, including conspiracy to commit armed robbery, murder, arson, and perverting the course of justice. Despite pleading not guilty, the prosecution, led by Chief State Counsel Adefisoye Temilola, proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Delivering her verdict, 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.”
As the courtroom fell silent, she handed down the death sentence.
“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.”
Apart from the three men sentenced to death, others who aided the crime received various punishments: These include Temitope Fadairo (Adekanbi’s wife – 2 years imprisonment for hiding her fugitive husband, Adenike Adekanbi (Adekanbi’s mother) –1 year imprisonment for providing false information to police, Azeez Usman (a welder who dismantled the stolen vehicle) – 14 years imprisonment for receiving stolen property and Anuoluwapo Owolaja – 2 years imprisonment. The court, however, discharded Abass Odetola and Lukmon Adewusi of all charges.
During the trial, Chief State Counsel Adefisoye Temilola detailed the tragic events of that night:
“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.”
The sentencing of the killers brings some closure to the Fatinoye family tragedy, a crime that shook Ogun State and the entire nation.