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The long standing trial of those accused of killing a 500 level medical student, Anwal Bala Shannon, at Iwo Road, Ibadan, on June 4, 2011, during a fracas between two rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW), has finally come to a close.
Justice Munta Abimbola of the Oyo State High Court, last Thursday sentenced one of the accused persons, Akinwunmi Adisa, to 25 years in prison with hard labour for the murder of the then Ahmadu Bello University undergraduate.
Three others charged with Adisa were however discharged for want of evidence to convict them.
According to Justice Abimbola, who is also the Chief Judge of Oyo State, while Adisa was actually involved and instigated others in the killing, the discharged persons – Olumide Oladejo, Sadie Adedokun and Tajudeen Arowotosuna, had indisputable alibis to exonorate themselves of the crime and hence, they got back their freedom.
The judge said: “I do not have substantial reason to convict the second, third, and fourth convicts. They are discharged and acquitted.
“I hereby sentence Akibwunmi Adisa to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour”.
Adisa, the three discharged, and others at large were said to have killed and roasted the body of Shanono, who was caught in the cross fire of the mayhem that took place at about 9:30 pm on the fateful day.