Two brothers, Sunday Arowosoki (25) and Gbolaga Arowosoki (23), have been sentenced to 15 months imprisonment each by an Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti for conspiracy to commit unlawful assault, malicious damage and unlawful damage of two shops belonging to a widow.
The court heard that the brothers attacked Chief Mrs Rachael Arowosoki, a trader and widow of their late uncle, on April 17, 2022, around 10:00am at Ayegunle Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State. They accused her of being a witch and responsible for the death of their uncle and some members of the family.
The widow told the police that she had been married to the late Jimoh Arowosoki for over 45 years and had six children with him. She said that after his death, his siblings levelled false allegations of witchcraft against her. She said that the matter was reported to the traditional ruler of Ayegunle Ekiti, who dismissed it as baseless and unfounded.
She said that the brothers, however, mobilised other family members and armed themselves with cutlasses, sticks and other dangerous weapons with the intention of killing her. She said that she managed to escape and ran to the palace for safety. She said that the brothers then went to her shop erected in front of her house and destroyed it.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Elijah Adejare, called three witnesses and tendered statements of the victim, statements of the defendants, hospital receipts and admission cards, among others, as exhibits. The brothers spoke in their own defence through their counsel Adegboyega Falowo and called three witnesses.
The magistrate, Olatomiwa Daramola, found the brothers guilty of counts one and three of the charge, which are conspiracy to commit felony and unlawful damage. He discharged and acquitted them of count two, which is malicious damage.
He sentenced them to three months imprisonment each or a fine of N10,000 for count one, and one year imprisonment each or a fine of N10,000 for count three. He said that the terms would run concurrently while the fine would be consecutively.
He said that the prosecution had proved the offences against the brothers beyond reasonable doubt with cogent and compelling evidence before the court.
The offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 421, 185 and 354 (1) (8) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
“I am therefore of the firm view that the evidence led by the prosecution in the circumstances of this case in counts 1 and 3 is adequate enough, since the evidence did implicate the defendants regarding the commission of the offences as charged against them.
“I therefore hold that the prosecution has proved the offences as charged in counts 1 and 3 against the defendants in the presence of cogent and compelling evidence before this court.
“In count one (Assault) the defendants are sentenced to three months imprisonment each or fine of N10, 000, in count two (malicious damage) the defendants are hereby discharged and acquitted; and in count three (unlawful damage) the defendants are sentenced to one year imprisonment each or fine of N10, 000 in lieu of imprisonment.
“The terms are to run concurrently while the fine is consecutively,”
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