OSOGBO – Justice Kudirat Akano of the Osun State High Court in Ede yesterday sentenced two friends, Oluwashina Adenle Wakeel and Yusuf Adewale, to seven years imprisonment each for assaulting Abdul Salam Jubril Oyewale and causing him to lose his right eye.
The convicts were arraigned in March 2023 on a seven-count charge, including conspiracy, attempted murder, and assault occasioning harm, under various sections of the Criminal Code.
A certified true copy of the judgment obtained by The Guardian revealed that the incident occurred in September 2022.
Oyewale, the victim, testified during the trial that while riding a motorcycle with Usman Abdulbasit along Ibode Poly Road in Ede at about 11:00 a.m., a black Toyota Corolla overtook and blocked their path.
He recounted that Yusuf Adewale, the second defendant, alighted from the car, seized the motorcycle key, and, along with Oluwashina Adenle Wakeel and others, attacked him. During the assault, a stick was inserted into Oyewale’s right eye, causing severe injuries and profuse bleeding.
The victim disclosed that he sought treatment at several hospitals, including Minaret Hospital in Osogbo, University College Hospital in Ibadan, and Eye Foundation Hospital in Lagos.
However, he was informed that the damage to his retina was irreversible, resulting in permanent blindness in his right eye.
He added that he continues to seek treatment to preserve his remaining eyesight.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the state, Morufat Bello, alongside Chief State Counsel Adekunle Adeniyi, called four witnesses and tendered nine exhibits.
In her verdict, Justice Akano ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. Counsel to the defendants, Ayodele Laogun, pleaded for leniency, arguing that his clients were first-time offenders with dependants.
Justice Akano sentenced the convicts to seven years imprisonment for conspiracy, three years for assault occasioning harm, one year for assault, and one month for breach of peace.
She ordered that the sentences run concurrently.
