Clergyman and Mother Convicted for Murder of Lagos State University Student, And Eating Her Body Parts As Part Of A Ritual
In a significant court ruling, Justice Christiana Obadina of an Osun State High Court in Ikire sentenced clergyman Phillips Segun, associated with a church in Ikoyi-Ile, to death by hanging for his involvement in the murder of Favour Daley-Oladele, a final year student of Lagos State University.
Alongside Segun, Owolabi Adeeko, 23, was also handed the death penalty, while Owolabi's mother, Bola Adeeko, 46, was convicted for the act of cannibalism.
During the trial, the prosecution team from the Ministry of Justice, led by Mrs. Adekemi Bello, presented nine witnesses, including the police investigator, and submitted various pieces of evidence.
The defendants testified in their defense but did not call any additional witnesses. According to the prosecution, Owolabi and Favour were in a month-long relationship when he deceived her into visiting his uncle in Ikire.
Unbeknownst to Favour, Owolabi, his mother, and Prophet Segun had conspired to kill her and use her body parts for a money ritual.
On December 8, 2019, in the church premises, Owolabi brutally murdered Favour by smashing her head with a pestle. Her organs were then used for the ritual, and her remains were buried in a shallow grave outside the church.
The prosecution team revealed that the police exhumed the body a few weeks later after apprehending the suspects, who confessed to the crime.
The defendants were initially arraigned on November 15, 2021, facing charges of conspiracy and murder under sections 324 and 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 34 Laws of Osun State, 2002.
In her judgement, Justice Obadina stated that the prosecuting counsel had convincingly proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
As a result, Prophet Philip Segun and Owolabi Adeeko were found guilty of murder and conspiracy, while Bola Adeeko was convicted of the offense of eating human flesh, which is contrary to the law.
During the allocutor plea, defense counsel Adeshina Olaniyan appealed for leniency from the court.
Nevertheless, the presiding judge sentenced Prophet Philip and Owolabi to death by hanging for the murder charge and 14 years imprisonment for conspiracy.
Additionally, Owolabi's mother, Bola, received a two-year prison term for the act of cannibalism.
It should be noted that Owolabi confessed to using his girlfriend's body parts to prepare a meal called "victory soup" for a money ritual, which he shared with his mother, following his arrest.
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