An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti, has sentenced seven persons to life imprisonment for the offence of conspiracy, armed robbery and membership of secret cult.
The defendant Oyebanji Jimoh (32) Jimoh Azeez (32), Bolaji Ayodele Stepen (32), Ibrahim Alausa (33), Olorunfemi Busayo (32). Adeniyi Adewumi (30) and Idowu Sunday (32) were arraigned before Justice Adekunle Adeleye on 28/01/2020 on five count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and membership of secret cult.
The charge reads, “that on 15th October, 2018, in Ado Ekiti, the defendants robbed one Ologunleko Juliet Olayinka of her Toyota Car with Registration number SMK 837 BF, a sum of N150, 000, laptop and phones. On same day at Dallimore junction of Ado Ekiti, did rob one Ologunleko Oluwole of his phones, food stuffs and some personal belongings.
On 15th July, 2018, at Ifelodun Avenue, Dallimore Street, Ado Ekiti did rob one Ojo Babatunde Kolawole of his phones and on 15th October 2019, the defendant were found to be members of Eiye Confratanity, a prohibited secret society in Ekiti State. As at the time of the incident, they were armed with guns and axes.
According to the charge, the offences are contrary to section 6 (b), 1(2) (9) of the Robbery and Fire Arms (Special Provision) Act. Cap. R11, VOL14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Section 4(1) of the secret cult (Abolition and Prohibition) (First Amendment) Law No 6 of 2017 of Ekiti State.
According to one of the victims, Mrs Ologunleko said, “myself and four members of my family were coming from Ijebu Remo, Ogun State to Ado Ekiti, one of my relatives who is working at EKSUTH told me that robbery incidents were rampant in Ado, he said, we should stay at a safe place where members of the OPC can assist to lead us home.
“We stayed at Dalimore junction waiting for one of us who was urinating, suddenly, we saw some boys, they asked us to lay face down, they collected our laptops, phones, some cash and ran away with my Toyota Corolla Car. I went to report the incident at area Command Police Station, Okesa in Ado Ekiti,” she concluded.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Taiwo Ajibulu Ariyo, called four witnesses and tendered statement of the defendants, short gun, 3 cartridges, 2 blue berets, bond to produce and photograph as exhibits while the defendants spoke in their own defence through their Lawyer S.K. Idowu, they called no witness.
In his judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye said, “from the circumstances of the case in hand, there is no doubt that the defendants acted in concert to commit armed robbery. They did not only robbed their victims but confessed to how they shared their loot . There is meeting of mind in commiting the crime alleged them, and they all took further step in sharing of their loots.
“In the circumstances, all the seven defendants are hereby sentenced to death”, the judge pronounced.
However, there was mild drama by the convicts after the pronouncement when the 1st and the 2nd defendants Oyebanji Sola and Jimoh Azeez who had been sentenced to death by hanging by another judge sometimes ago led other convicts and became unruly upon hearing the verdict, causing a commotion in the courtroom.
They were shouting, struggled and resisted attempt by the correctional officers to take them away.
The scene quickly turned chaotic as the Judge, lawyers, litigants and court staff scrambled to evacuate the premises, seeking safety and security, court chairs and tables were knocked over and papers scattered as panic set in.
The Correctional officers and other security personnel swiftly intervened, using restraints techniques to subdue the convicts.
After a tense struggle, the officers managed to overpower them and led them out of the courtroom and escort them to the Correctional facility.
