Court sentences man to death for killing roommate over door dispute

An Ondo State High Court has sentenced a middle-aged man, Sunday Omoniyi, to death by hanging for stabbing his roommate, Michael Oyebanji, to death during a heated quarrel.

Omoniyi was arraigned on a one-count charge of murder after the incident, which reportedly stemmed from an argument over closing the door.

According to Police prosecutor, Inspector Fisayo Oladepo, the offence contravenes Section 316 and is punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

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According to the prosecution witness, Ismaila Adefaka, who informed the court that both the defendant and the deceased were his tenants at 4, Canaanland, Ijoka road, Akure, the state capital, disclosed that the incident occurred on July 23, 2022 at about 6:30am.

Adefaka said when the incident occured, he rushed to the defendant’s apartment where he met Omoniyi him a pool of blood following stabbing by the defendant with a knife on his chest.

The landlord maintained that the deceased was confirmed dead after he was rushed to the hospital, a development that made him report the incident at the police station which led to the arrest of Oyebanji.

Also, Adedugbe Opeyemi, Adedeji Gift and Aremu Opeyemi, who were co-occupants with both the defendant and the deceased, told the court that the defendant and the deceased had earlier that morning argued about a door but it was resolved for them.

The witnesses revealed that they suddenly heard the deceased’s voice in pain and rushed back into the room, only to meet him on the floor in the pool of his blood and the defendant with a knife in his hand stained with blood.

According to Adedugbe Opeyemi, the defendant confessed to have stabbed the deceased in retaliation for a fist blow on him by the late Oyebanjil.

With the Police prosecutor informing the court that Omoniyi confessed in a statement to have committed the offence, Justice W.R Olamide in his judgement stated that the prosecution proved the case of murder against the defendant and subsequently sentenced the defendant to death by hanging.