Ekiti Court Sentences 4 To Death For Armed Robbery

Four men have been sentenced to death by an Ekiti State High Court for armed robbery.

The convicts, Segun Friday (39), Tijani Semiu Seun (27), Ogunyemi Segun Olarewaju (29) and Adebayo Tope (23) were sentenced to death after they were found guilty of the crime by the court presided over by Justice Adekunle Adeleye.

They were arraigned before the court on 17th July, 2020 on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

The defendants, according to the charge, had on December 24, 2018 at Irare Village, Erinmope in Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State, conspired to commit felony and rob one Adeleke Abiodun of his Bajaj motorcycle, while armed with guns.

The offences contravene Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act. Cap. RII, Vol. 14 and Section 1(2) (a) Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act. Cap. RII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The victim in his testimony before the court said, “I am a commercial motorcyclist plying Otun and Erinmope Ekiti. On the fateful day, I conveyed a lady from Otun to Erinmope Ekiti. On my way back to Otun, one man stopped me, we negotiated to take him to Irare village. I refused to go further when I discovered I was going inside the forest.

The prosecutor, Julius Ajibare, called three witnesses and tendered the defendants’ statements as exhibits to prove his case while the defendants spoke through their counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke.

Justice Adeleye while delivering his judgment, said, “There is evidence of direct plot between the conspirators. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants indeed took steps to achieve the agreed task of robbery.’’

“It is also established without doubt that the defendants took steps in achieving the agreed unlawful act of dispossessing his Bajaj motorcycle.”

The four defendants are found guilty in count one (conspiracy) and count two (armed robbery) as charged.”

The judge subsequently sentenced the convicts to death.