An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced three men: Oyebanji Sola (31), Jimoh Azeez (31) and Ogunlade Babatunde (28) to death by hanging for armed robbery.
The court also sentenced one Babalola Bidemi (28) to 10 years imprisonment and set free Akinwale Oluwaseun (26).
They were arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on January 30, 2020 on five-count charges bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, receiving stolen property and membership of a secret cult.
According to the charge, the defendants on October 3, 2018 at Oke Oniyo Street, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of the court conspired to commit felony, to wit; armed robbery.
On the said date, they robbed Tijani Omowumi and Ogunrinde Olumide of their phones, Plasma Television, wrist watch, necklace, shirts, trousers, shuttle bag, cash sum of N5, 000 among others.
“As at the time of the robbery, they were armed with big stick, club, stone, cutlasses and gun; the offences 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 and Section 4 (1) of the Secret Cults (Abolition and Prohibition) (First Amendment) Law, No. 6 of 2017.”
The prosecutor, Dolapo Oyewole, called five witnesses and tendered the defendants’ statements, phones, wraps of Indian hemp, motorcycle with ignition among others as exhibits to prove his case.
The defendants spoke in their own defence through their respective lawyers and called two witnesses.
Mr Adeyinka Opaleke who is the counsel to Akinwale Oluwaseun in his submission, proved his client’s innocence of the alleged offence.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Ogunmoye said, “In all, the sole issue for determination is resolved in part in favour of the prosecution, I accordingly ordered as follows: the first defendant (Babalola Bidemi), though a first offender, was the one that encouraged the offence of armed robbery, in that he knew that the item received by him was a product of armed robbery, his sentence should serve as deterrence.
“He is accordingly sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. The second defendant Akinwale Oluwaseun is discharged and acquitted in all the charges, while the third, fourth and fifth defendants, Oyebanji Sola, Jimoh Azeez and Ogunlade Babatunde, are found guilty as charged, they are hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” he said.
