Lagos State Judiciary on Monday recorded the first virtual court session to deliver the judgment of one Olalekan Hameed who was sentenced to death by hanging.
Justice Mojisola Dada of Ikeja High Court gave the judgement during the virtual session via the Zoom app.
Hameed, a driver was earlier arraigned on march 6, 2019 for the murder of one Mrs. Jolasun Okunsanya at her residence on plot 83, owukun crescent, Alaka estate, surulere.
The court session which included the judge, defendant, his team of counsel and the prosecution team led by the Lagos State Solicitor General Ms Titilayo Shitta – Bey participated in the session remotely from different locations via the zoom app.
The convict was arraigned on a two-count charge of murder and stealing.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges, following which trial commenced last year.
The prosecution, during trial, called nine (9) witnesses and tendered exhibits which included the Coroner’s report, and sums of N97,500 and $117 recovered from the convict.
Justice Dada while delivering her judgement said,
“It is also an established fact that although the defendant went to the house, where the crime was committed with an intention to steal, the sudden stumbling upon him by the deceased, led him to not just pushing the deceased, but actually strangulating her in a bid to keep her from crying out,” Justice Dada said.
“The case is clear… I have not found any contradiction with the evidence of the prosecution witness that can be deemed material or weighty enough to cast any doubt on the case of the prosecution against the defendant in this case… The facts of the case are incompatible with the plea of innocence of the defendant but rather his guilt on the two counts.
“The defendant is hereby found guilty of murder and is hereby convicted as charged and accordingly sentenced to death by hanging.
This is the virtual judgment of the court..”
The Virtual Court Session had in attendance, the Convict viewing from Ikoyi Correctional Center, defence counsel, the prosecution team led by Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba and the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN.
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