Court Jails Robber For 14 Years With Hard Labour

Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced a 29-year-old bus driver, Suleiman Olasoda to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for attempted armed robbery.

Justice Ogala handed down the verdict after the defendant entered into a plea bargain agreement with the Lagos State Government.

Earlier, the defendant had pleaded guilty to the amended robbery charge, read to him in the Yoruba Language by the court registrar.

During the trial, the prosecution had called three witnesses, but instead of opening his defence, the defendant had opted for a plea bargain arrangement.

The Lagos State Prosecutor, Mrs Uju Nwogazi, said that the defendant was arrested on September 18, 2016, while attempting to rob one Adedeji Oluwaseun of his Nokia phone.

While reviewing the facts of the case on Monday, Mrs Nwogazi told the judge that the evidence already presented by the prosecution was sufficient to prove the offence beyond all reasonable doubt.

The defence counsel, Kevin Okereke, did not object to the prosecution’s submission.

Justice Oyindamola then asked the defendant if he was forced to accept the agreement, to which the defendant answered that he was not.

The judge thereafter held, “Under the plea agreement dated November 27, the defendant is to serve a sentence of 14 years imprisonment, which will commence from the date of remand in October 2016.”