An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced one Owoeye Rotimi Ojo to death by hanging for attempted murder and armed robbery.
Fifty-one-year-old Ojo was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on August 25, 2023, on four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder and armed robbery.
The defendant alongside others at large had on May 21, 2023 at Oluwole Orungbe Street in Ado-Ekiti conspired to commit armed robbery and attempted to murder one Adeyemi Funmilayo and Adesola Omolola.
The charge reads: “The defendant and others at large robbed the victim of her hand bag containing an unspecified sum of money, handset valued N85,000. Also on 12/5/23 at Ilokun in Ado-Ekiti, the defendant and others at large did rob Adesola Omolola of her laptop, phones, flash drives cash sum of N10,000 among others, as at the time of the robbery they were armed with guns, cutlass and axe.
“The offences are contrary to Sections 314, 312(2) (b), 241 and 312 (a) of the criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.”
One of the victims, Omolola, in his testimony told the court that he was at home around 8pm and was about going to bed but one of his sons was outside.
Omolola said he was trying to lock the door from behind when he discovered there was a push outside and opened the door to know why the door was not closed.
“I saw the defendant and others holding guns, cutlasses, and axe. I was ordered to lay face down; they ordered my eldest son to lead them inside the room where they carted away my valuables and cash sum worth of N710,000.
“After they left, I reported the matter at Oke Ila Police Station. A week later, I heard some armed robbers had been arrested in the neighbourhood, when I visited them at the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigeria Police Force (RRS) office, I was able to identify the defendant as one of the robbers who robbed my house,” he concluded.
The prosecutor, O.F. Ajumobi called four witness and tendered one single barrel gun, live cartridges, statement of the defendant, pictures of the victims, among others, as exhibits to proof his case.
The defendant who spoke in his own defence through his counsel Lawrence Fasanmi, did not call any witness.
In delivering his judgment, Justice Ogunmoye held that the prosecution had established robbery incident in the premises of the victims and that the defendant was one of those who took part in the armed robbery and there was an agreement between him and others.
“The prosecution had therefore proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the offences as charged.
“Consequently, the defendant is hereby sentenced to death by hanging. May God have mercy upon his soul,” the judge ruled.
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