A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Jonathan Marcus to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murdering his former employer, 80-year-old Adebola Ezekiel, and his wife, Abiodun Ezekiel, at their residence in Apo Legislative Quarters in April 2024.
Justice M. S. Idris of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Jonathan Marcus to death by hanging for the murder of Mr. Adebola Ezekiel (80) and his wife, Mrs. Abiodun Ezekiel, at their home in Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja. The judgment followed the court’s finding that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
According to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Marcus, who previously worked as the couple’s driver, carried out the attack on the night of April 1, 2024, before fleeing to Obajana, Kogi State, where he was later tracked down and arrested by police investigators.
Police said the convict confessed during interrogation to entering the victims’ residence at about 11 p.m. and killing the elderly couple. Investigators also established that Marcus had earlier been dismissed from his employment following repeated disagreements with the deceased.
The gruesome murder shocked residents of the Federal Capital Territory when it occurred in 2024. During an earlier police parade after his arrest, Marcus claimed he attacked the couple out of frustration over what he described as poor treatment and inadequate financial compensation while working for them.
Following an extensive investigation, the suspect was arraigned before the court, where prosecutors presented evidence linking him to the killings. After reviewing the evidence and hearing submissions from both parties, the court convicted him of the double murder.
The FCT Police Command welcomed the judgment, describing it as a demonstration that perpetrators of violent crimes will be brought to justice.
Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the Federal Capital Territory and ensuring that criminal offenders are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The conviction brings to a close one of Abuja’s most disturbing murder cases in recent years. Authorities say the judgment reinforces the justice system’s commitment to holding offenders accountable while providing a measure of justice for the victims’ family and loved ones.