Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The family of Haruna Ayeni, an Ekiti State indigene sentenced to death alongside his late father, has appealed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji to intervene in what they describe as a wrongful conviction stemming from a long-running land dispute in Emure Ekiti. The case, which dates back to 2012, has since moved through multiple levels of Nigeria’s judicial system and is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
In an interview granted to PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, Haruna’s brother, Olusola Ayeni, traced the origin of the legal battle to June 2012, when a disagreement over land allegedly escalated into a physical altercation on their father’s farm in Emure Ekiti. According to Olusola, individuals attempting to encroach on the family’s land confronted their father, resulting in a scuffle. One of the men involved subsequently reported the incident to the police, leading to their father’s arrest on assault allegations.
Olusola said Haruna went to the police station to secure their father’s bail but was also detained. He alleged that police officers had been instructed to detain anyone who came forward to bail their father. Both men were initially charged with assault before a High Court in Ekiti State. That case was eventually dismissed, and the court ordered their release.
However, events took a dramatic turn shortly after the dismissal of the assault charges. Olusola claimed that when his father and Haruna returned to complete their release formalities, they were rearrested by different officers and charged with murder. He stated that the complainant in the original assault case had allegedly died in his sleep at home during the period of the initial proceedings.
According to the family’s account, the new murder charge formed the basis of a separate trial, which culminated in a 2014 judgment by a High Court in Ekiti State sentencing both Haruna and his father to death. Olusola said their father later died in custody at a correctional facility. The family also suffered another tragedy when their sister reportedly died in a car accident while traveling to visit Haruna in prison.
Olusola described the cumulative impact of the events as devastating, particularly for their elderly mother, who he said has struggled with prolonged health issues following the loss of her husband and two children. He appealed directly to Governor Oyebanji to review the case and consider executive intervention. According to him, Haruna has spent nearly 14 years in detention for a crime the family insists he did not commit.
Haruna’s legal representative, Barrister Seun Ajayi, acknowledged the complexity of the case. He stated that he became involved after the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment and emphasized that the appellate court based its ruling on the evidence presented before it. While noting that the courts acted within the framework of the materials before them, Ajayi indicated that the defense team is exploring the possibility of seeking executive clemency from the state governor.
The Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, disputed the family’s characterization of the case. He maintained that the conviction was lawfully secured following due judicial process. According to Apata, the High Court convicted Haruna, and the Court of Appeal subsequently affirmed the judgment. He clarified that the matter is currently before the Supreme Court, which represents the final stage of judicial review.
Apata’s statement underscores that the case remains sub judice, with the Supreme Court yet to deliver its verdict. Under Nigeria’s legal system, a death sentence handed down by a High Court and affirmed by the Court of Appeal must pass through the Supreme Court before it becomes final. Additionally, governors possess constitutional powers to grant pardons or commute sentences following recommendations from the state advisory council on the prerogative of mercy.
The Ayeni family’s appeal therefore raises both judicial and executive considerations. On one hand, the Supreme Court’s pending decision will determine whether the conviction stands or is overturned. On the other, the governor retains the authority to consider clemency should the advisory process warrant it.
For now, Haruna remains on death row while the Supreme Court reviews the case. The outcome will not only determine his fate but may also address broader questions about the evidentiary standards and procedural safeguards applied in capital cases within the state. As the legal process continues, the family’s plea has brought renewed public attention to the human and emotional toll of protracted criminal litigation involving the ultimate penalty.
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