…..FCT High Court convicts Jonathan Marcus over the killing of 80-year-old Adebola Ezekiel and his wife, Abiodun, after police investigation leads to his arrest in Kogi State.
By Rejoice Peterside
An FCT High Court has sentenced Jonathan Marcus to death by hanging for the murder of his former employer, 80-year-old Adebola Ezekiel, and his wife, Abiodun Ezekiel, following a trial that established his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The judgment, delivered by Justice M. S. Idris of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, followed the successful prosecution of the case by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
The Command disclosed the outcome of the trial in a statement issued on Tuesday, July 1, 2026, by its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh.
According to the police, the tragic incident occurred on April 1, 2024, at the residence of the late couple in Zone D, Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.
The elderly couple were found murdered in what investigators described as a gruesome attack that sent shockwaves across the Federal Capital Territory and sparked demands for justice.
The police said the incident was subjected to an extensive and painstaking investigation, during which detectives followed several leads before identifying Jonathan Marcus, a former driver to the deceased, as the prime suspect.
Investigators discovered that Marcus had previously worked for the couple but was dismissed from his employment following repeated disagreements with his employers.
After the killings, the suspect allegedly fled Abuja and went into hiding in Obajana, Kogi State, in an apparent attempt to evade arrest.
However, police operatives tracked him to his hideout, arrested him, and returned him to Abuja for further investigation.
According to the statement, Marcus confessed during interrogation that he gained access to the victims’ residence at about 11:00 p.m. on April 1, 2024, before murdering the couple.
Following the conclusion of investigations, the suspect was arraigned before the FCT High Court on charges bordering on the murder of Adebola Ezekiel and his wife.
During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence linking Marcus to the crime and urged the court to convict him.
After reviewing the evidence and listening to the submissions of both the prosecution and the defence, Justice Idris held that the prosecution had successfully established its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court consequently found Jonathan Marcus guilty of the murder of Adebola Ezekiel and Abiodun Ezekiel and sentenced him to death by hanging.
Reacting to the judgment, the FCT Police Command described the conviction as a reflection of its commitment to ensuring that criminals are brought to justice through diligent investigation and prosecution.
The Command also reassured residents of the Federal Capital Territory that it remains resolute in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
“The FCT Police Command reassures residents of the Federal Capital Territory of its firm commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that perpetrators of crime are brought to justice in accordance with the law,” the statement signed by SP Josephine Adeh read.
The conviction brings to a close more than two years of legal proceedings in one of Abuja’s most disturbing murder cases involving the killing of an elderly couple by someone who had once worked closely with the family.
The police urged members of the public to continue supporting law enforcement agencies with timely and credible information capable of preventing crime and aiding the arrest of criminal suspects across the FCT.
