Ekiti Court Sentences Man to Death by Hanging for Killing His Brother in Ado-Ekiti

The Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti, has handed down a death sentence by hanging to Stephen Adamu, a 34-year-old man, for the murder of his biological brother.

Adamu was initially charged with murder before Justice Adekunle Adeleye on January 31, 2025. The charge stated that on September 29, 2024, in Ado-Ekiti, Adamu killed his brother, David Adamu, an action that violates Section 234 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021.

During the proceedings, an eyewitness, Selfa Vengrim, Chairman of the Langtan tribe in the area, testified that he responded to a report of a fight among his community members. He arrived to find the convict, Stephen Adamu, struggling with his girlfriend, Julianah, whom he had already wounded.

The deceased, Adamu David, intervened to stop the fight. In the process, Stephen Adamu produced a knife and stabbed his brother in the neck. Upon realizing David was mortally wounded, Stephen attempted to flee but was apprehended by community members and turned over to the police patrol.

David died at the scene, and his body was moved to the morgue by the authorities.

Prosecutor Funmi Bello presented the state’s case, calling six witnesses and submitting the defendant’s statement, an attestation form, and the knife used in the crime as evidence. The defense, led by S.K Idowu, did not call any witnesses.

In his ruling, Justice Adeleye determined that “Stephen Adamu deliberately stabbed David Adamu on the neck.” The court inferred that the defendant had the intent to kill the victim.

Justice Adeleye accepted the prosecution’s evidence as sufficient to prove the elements of murder beyond a reasonable doubt, stating, “I find the defendant guilty as charged; the defendant, Stephen Adamu is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”