Man Sentenced to Death for Killing Wife's Alleged Lover: A Case of Fatal Jealousy

In a recent ruling by the Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, a 28-year-old man, Ayodeji Alomoge, has been condemned to death by hanging for the murder of a man believed to be involved with his wife.

Alomoge stood trial on a charge of murder, stemming from an incident on June 21, 2022, in Ikere Ekiti. According to the charge, he allegedly killed one Ogunleye Ayomide, an act that contravenes Section 234 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

In his statement to the police, the father of the deceased, Ige Ogunleye, recounted receiving a distressing call informing him that his son had been brutally attacked by Alomoge and his accomplices. Rushing to the scene, he found his son in a grievous state, soaked in his own blood with severe head and mouth injuries. Alomoge, apprehended by bystanders, reportedly confessed that Ayomide had been having an affair with his wife, a claim he had warned Ayomide about previously.

The prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented five witnesses and submitted various pieces of evidence, including the defendant's statements, images of the deceased, and a medical report detailing the cause of death.

In his defense, Alomoge's lawyer, Adeyinka Opaleke, pleaded for leniency from the court but called no witnesses to testify on behalf of his client.

In delivering the judgment, Justice Jubril Aladejana remarked on the tragic consequences of jealousy and emphasized that disputes over romantic relationships should not justify violence unless there is sudden provocation leading to a loss of control.

Consequently, the court found Ayodeji Alomoge guilty of the murder charge and pronounced the sentence of death by hanging, stating that he "shall be hanged by his neck until he be dead."

This case serves as a sobering reminder of the destructive potential of jealousy and highlights the need for peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms in matters of the heart. It also underscores the gravity of resorting to violence in response to perceived betrayals, ultimately resulting in irreparable loss and legal consequences.