Justice: Commercial Motorcyclist Sentenced To Death By Hanging Over Death Of Corps Member

An Ikere Ekiti High Court presided over by Justice Adegoriola Adeleye has sentenced a 26‑year-old commercial motorcyclist, Theophilus Pius, to death by hanging for his role in the case of a missing National Youth Service Corps member, Miss Anthonia Okeke, who was serving at Ilawe Ekiti.

In the case that lasted six years, the judge equally sentenced Pius to 10 years imprisonment for kidnapping Anthonia, which ultimately led to her death in the hands of ritualists.

Anthonia, a Chemical Engineering graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, was kidnapped in Ilawe Ekiti in Ekiti South-West Local Government Area of Ekiti State on December 19, 2008 by Pius and his gang during her service year.

“I want to submit that the prosecution counsel has been able to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt. He has been able to establish that the defendant is culpable and no criminal shall go unpunished in the face of law,” Justice Adeleye said while delivering his judgement.

He therefore ruled that Pius, whom he found guilty of murder should die by hanging. He is also to serve 10 years jail term for his complicity in the kidnap of the late corps member.