The Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has handed down the death penalty by hanging to three individuals for their involvement in conspiracy and armed robbery.
The defendants, Omotayo Deji (23), Chidiebere Ifeanyin (25), and Bolaji Usman (28), were brought before Justice Bamidele Omotoso on January 21, 2020, facing a four-count charge related to 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 a felony, namely armed robbery, and robbed Ademiloye Stephen, Olokuntoye Temitope, and Ajayi Kolade of their belongings, such as phones, a laptop computer, sandals, phone chargers, and power banks valued at N186,000. At the time of the robbery, they were armed with a cutlass and a wooden plank.”
The charges filed against them are in violation of Sections 6 (b) and 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 provided a statement to the police, stating, “We were sleeping in our room around 2:30 a.m. Suddenly, I heard a loud sound on the door. Immediately, we woke up, and I saw the defendants armed with cutlasses and wooden planks. They immediately broke the electric bulb with the plank in their hands and commanded us to lay face down and hand over all our money. We told them we are students and don’t have money. They started beating us with the stick and cutlass. Thereafter, they collected our phones, laptops, chargers, sandals, power banks, and other items I cannot remember and ran away.”
To support the case, the prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented one witness and submitted statements from the victims and defendants, among other exhibits.
The defendants presented their defense through their counsels but did not call any witnesses.
In the judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso stated, “I am firmly convinced that the prosecution has conclusively proven beyond reasonable doubt the offense of armed robbery committed by the defendants. They are hereby declared guilty as charged and convicted for the offense of armed robbery.
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