An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a 37-year-old man, Ayeni Tunde Kazeem, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
Justice Lekan Olatawura delivered the judgement on Monday after finding the defendant guilty on a five-count charge of armed robbery contrary to Section 312(2)(a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
The defendant was arraigned on June 16, 2025, over an incident that occurred on October 2, 2024, at the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI).
According to the charge, Kazeem robbed five students Adewale Moyinoluwa, Ogunbolude Oluwanifemi, Ojo Oluwamayowa, Sidiq Simbiat, and Oloruntoba Nifemi of five mobile phones valued at N680,000. The phones included Infinix Smart 7, Itel A04, Infinix Smart 6, Samsung Galaxy S6, and Tecno Pop 8. He was alleged to have carried out the robbery while armed with a gun.
Testifying before the court, one of the victims, Adewale Moyinoluwa, said she and her roommates were in their room around 9:10 pm when a man wearing a lemon-colored top and blue jean shorts knocked on their door.
“Immediately he entered, he was holding a double-barrel pistol. He commanded us to submit our phones. We thought it was a joke until he brought out cartridges and started loading the gun. He pointed it at us, so we submitted all our phones,” she said.
She added that the assailant instructed them to lock their door after he left, but they raised an alarm.
The prosecutor, Salem Bade-Gboyega, called seven witnesses and tendered the defendant’s confessional statements, a lemon green hoodie, ATM cards, and a search warrant as exhibits.
The defendant, represented by counsel Amir Salami, testified in his own defence but called no witnesses. He pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
In his judgement, Justice Olatawura said he found no reason to exercise discretion in favour of the defendant.
“I am unable to exercise any discretion in favour of a defendant who showed no remorse throughout his trial. The punishment for armed robbery is one of strict application,” the judge held.
He found Kazeem guilty on all five counts and pronounced sentence.
“Accordingly, the sentence of this court upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul,” Justice Olatawura ruled.
