3 To Die By Hanging For Armed Robbery

Three young men have been sentenced to death by hanging by an Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti for conspiracy and armed robbery.

The trio Omotayo Deji (23), Chidiebere Ifeanyin (25) and Bolaji Usman (28) were on January 21, 2020 arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Bamidele Omotoso on four count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.

According to the charge, the defendants on May 6, 2019 at Aba Erinfun, Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti in Ado Ekiti Judicial Division did conspire to commit felony, to wit; Armed Robbery and robbed Ademiloye Stephen, Olokuntoye Temitope and Ajayi Kolade of their belongings, such as, phones, Laptop computer, sandals, phone chargers and power banks valued at N186,000,

They were said to be armed with cutlass and wooden planks as at the time of the robbery.

The offences according to the charge are contrary to Sections 6 (b), 1 (2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

One of the victims in his statement to the Police said, “We were sleeping in our room around 2:30 a.m., suddenly, I heard a loud sound on the door and woke up immediately to see the defendants armed with cutlass and wooden planks.

‘’They immediately broke the electric bulb with the plank in their hands and commanded us to lay face down and bring out all our money. When we told them, we were students and we didn’t have money, they started beating us in the back with sticks and cutlasses. Thereafter, they started collecting our phones, laptop, chargers, sandals, power banks and other items I could not remember and ran away. We later shouted for help but nobody came out”, he concluded.

The prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called one witness and tendered statements of the victims and defendants, phones among others as exhibits to prove his case while the defendants spoke in their own defence through their counsels and called no witness.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Omotoso said, “I am of the strong opinion that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of Armed Robbery against the defendants.

They are hereby found guilty as charged and convicted for the offence of Armed Robbery.

‘’ The sentence of the court upon you Omotayo Deji, Chidiebere Ifeanyin, and Bolaji Usman is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead and may the Lord have mercy on your souls’’.