By Joy Kaka
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi, on Wednesday sentenced Jonathan Markus to death by hanging for killing his 82-year-old boss, Ezekiel Adebola and 67-year-old wife, Abiodun.
Delivering judgment, Justice Idris Mohammed held that based on the evidence before the court, Markus committed the crime, adding that the testimony of the witnesses gave clear circumstances that led to the deaths.
Mohammed added that the video evidence played in the open court where Markus admitted he caused the death of the deceased, proved he did it.
” The prosecution counsel, Adama Musa has proven his case with circumstantial evidence and I invoke the provisions of Section 221 of the Penal Code and sentence Markus to death by hanging,” he said.
Earlier Musa said that Markus, armed with a jack knife, broke into the residence of the deceased at No. 46 Moses Adasu Close, Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja and slit their throats with the knife which led to their death on April 1, 2024.
The offence, he said contravened the provisions of Sections 220 (a), (b) of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 221.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deceased’s son, Seun Ezekiel said he called his father on the phone severally to no avail.
He said he then got worried and called the chief security officer of the estate to go and check on his parents.
Ezekiel subsequently authorised the security to break the door and check what was wrong.
The security broke the door and reported back to him that they found the lifeless bodies of his parents in the pool of their blood with slit throats.
The Investigating Police officer, Mr Felix Peter revealed that a private tracker was used to trace the deceased’s phone and Markus’ picture appeared as his sim was in the phone which led to his arrest in Kogi.
NAN also reports that Markus usually drove the Adebolas before their death and helped them with house chores whenever his services were needed. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza