Court acquits man of murder charge over osan-ekiti bucket dispute killing

An Ekiti State High Court, sitting at the High Court (6), has discharged and acquitted Ogboninu Sunday of a charge of murder in a case arising from the death of one Olaiya Wasiu at Osan-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The judgment was delivered on Monday, July 27, 2026, by the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Bamidele Omotoso, in Charge No. HAD/149C/2025, titled The State of Ekiti v. Ogboninu Sunday.

The defendant had been accused of killing Wasiu on June 21, 2025, following an alleged disagreement over missing buckets.

Following the incident, Ogboninu was initially brought before a Magistrate's Court on June 26, 2025, on a holding charge. The substantive trial subsequently commenced before the High Court on January 14, 2026, where the charge was read to the defendant and he pleaded not guilty to the allegation of murder.

The prosecution was represented by Idayat O. Famobio, Esq., while the defendant was represented by Barrister Oluwafemi Alonge and Barrister David Ogbede, who worked together in mounting the defence.

In proving its case, the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including photographic evidence.

The witnesses called by the prosecution included the defendant's wife, who testified as PW1; the defendant's 13-year-old son, who testified as PW2; and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), who testified as PW3.

After calling its witnesses and tendering its exhibits, the prosecution closed its case.

The defendant thereafter took the witness stand and testified in his own defence. His evidence centred on the defence of self-defence. He told the court, in substance, that he acted to protect his own life, contending that the deceased posed a grave threat to him and would have beheaded him had he not shot him.

Following the conclusion of evidence, the matter was adjourned for the parties to file and adopt their respective final written addresses. Counsel subsequently adopted their addresses, after which the court reserved the matter for judgment.

In a judgment delivered on July 27, 2026, Justice Omotoso found in favour of the defendant and discharged and acquitted him of the charge of murder.

The judgment marked the conclusion of a closely contested criminal trial in which the defence team of Barrister Oluwafemi Alonge and Barrister David Ogbede challenged the prosecution's case and relied on the evidence of the defendant in support of the defence of self-defence.

The acquittal means that Ogboninu Sunday has been cleared of the murder charge arising from the June 21, 2025 incident at Osan-Ekiti.