RismadarVoice Reporters
May 22, 2026
Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife has sentenced a 30-year-old man, Taiwo Agboola, to death for the murder of a 62-year-old woman, Jadesola Olubayo, at a palm oil processing factory in Ife South Local Government Area of the state.
Justice Adedapo Adeniji delivered the judgment on Friday, holding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Agboola was convicted on a three-count charge bordering on attempted rape, indecent assault, and murder contrary to Sections 359, 360, and 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 34, Laws of Osun State, 2002.
The court heard that the incident occurred on October 11, 2023, at a palm oil processing site located near the Amula River in Olokemeji Village, Ifetedo.
The defendant was first arraigned on November 7, 2024. During the trial, the prosecution team from the Osun State Ministry of Justice, led by Ajibola Alade and Omotayo Babalola, called four witnesses, while the defendant testified in his own defence without presenting additional witnesses.
One of the key witnesses, Latifat Adeyemo, granddaughter of the deceased, told the court that she had accompanied her grandmother to the processing factory on the day of the incident.
According to her testimony, Agboola suddenly appeared at the factory naked, causing panic among the women.
Adeyemo said she and the deceased attempted to flee, but the defendant chased and overpowered the elderly woman while she escaped to seek help from the owner of the factory, identified as Ajide Bashiru.
She further told the court that when they returned to the scene, the defendant had stripped the deceased naked and allegedly smashed her face with a stone and stick, killing her on the spot.
The witness added that Agboola initially fled the scene but was later apprehended nearby and handed over to the police.
Counsel to the defendant, Oluwaseun Akintola Philip-Idiok and Victoria Ugochi Layi-Jacob, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
However, Justice Adeniji found the defendant guilty on all three counts and sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment for attempted rape, two years imprisonment for indecent assault, and death by hanging for murder.
