24-year-old man sentenced to death for rape and murder of 17-year-old girl in Ibadan

An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has sentenced Kolade Tosin to death by hanging for the murder of 17-year-old Ifeoluwa Apanpa. Justice Mojisola I. Sule delivered the verdict on Monday in Court 9 of the Oyo State High Court.

Tosin was also given a life sentence for raping the victim prior to her murder in the Olodo area of Ibadan on September 17, 2022, at the age of 20.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by Oyo State Attorney General Abiodun Aikomo, called four witnesses, including the victim’s father, retired ACP Arimiyau Apanpa; her pastor, Olusegun Ajulo; Corporal Ayoade Quadri; and ASP Segun Oladunjoye from the State CID in Iyaganku.

In her ruling, Justice Sule dismissed Tosin’s claim that he did not make statements to the police, stating that the evidence indicated his statements were obtained lawfully in the presence of his parents. She remarked:

“It is a well-established principle that a litigant cannot change their stance arbitrarily. I concur with the prosecution that the defendant’s denial of his police statement in his defense is merely an afterthought.”

The court also rejected Tosin’s assertion that his parents did not provide statements to law enforcement, noting that he did not call them as witnesses to support his claims.

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The judge concluded that the prosecution successfully demonstrated that the defendant had non-consensual sexual intercourse with the victim before murdering her. Justice Sule stated:

“The defendant provided detailed accounts of his crimes, admitting to the police that he forcibly engaged in sexual intercourse with the deceased, which indicates her lack of consent.”

After carefully considering both oral and documentary evidence, the court found Tosin guilty as charged.

Justice Sule declared: “I hereby sentence you, Kolade Tosin, to death by hanging until declared dead. May God have mercy on your soul.”