Ex-Driver Sentenced to Death for Killing Elderly Abuja Couple

(The Suspect. Photo Credit: Leadership News)

A former driver to an elderly Abuja couple, Jonathan Marcus, has been sentenced to d£ath by hanging for the mur/der of his former employers, Adebola Ezekiel, 80, and his wife, Abiodun Ezekiel.

The conviction followed the successful prosecution of the case by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, which said it secured the judgement after proving the charges against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

The police command disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh.

According to the police spokesperson, the couple was k!lled on April 1, 2024, at their residence in Zone D, Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja, prompting an extensive police investigation.

She said the investigation led to the arrest of Marcus, who had fled the Federal Capital Territory after the incident.

She explained that the investigation led to his arrest, noting that he was tracked to Obajana, Kogi State, where he had gone into hiding after committing the crime, and was subsequently arrested and brought to Abuja for further investigation.

The police spokesperson disclosed that during interrogation, the convict admitted to carrying out the k!llings after gaining access to the victims’ residence late at night, stating that he confessed to entering the residence at about 11:00 p.m. on April 1, 2024, where he mur/dered the couple.

Marcus was arrested shortly after the k!llings in April 2024, following his flight to Obajana, Kogi State.

During a police parade held after his arrest, he claimed to have worked for the couple for about 10 years and alleged that he k!lled them due to what he described as ill-treatment by the late Mr Ezekiel.

He also alleged that he was poorly remunerated despite performing both driver and mechanic duties while working for the deceased couple.

SP Adeh further revealed that investigations showed Marcus had previously worked as the couple’s driver but was dismissed following repeated disagreements with them.

She explained that he was subsequently arraigned before the FCT High Court, where the police prosecuted the matter.

According to the statement, after evaluating the evidence presented by the prosecution and hearing submissions from counsel, Hon. Justice M. S. Idris of the FCT High Court held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, and consequently convicted Jonathan Marcus and sentenced him to d£ath by hanging for the mur/der of Mr Adebola Ezekiel and Mrs Abiodun Ezekiel.

Reaffirming the command’s commitment to public safety, Adeh reassured residents of the Federal Capital Territory of the command’s firm commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that perpetrators of crime are brought to justice in accordance with the law.