An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced two persons to death by hanging.
The convicts Olusegun Folorunso 53, Ajayi Dele 51 were arraigned before Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi on three-count charge bordering on Conspiracy and Armed Robbery.
The charge reads that “the convicts on 24th August, 2022 along Erio Ekiti Road within the jurisdiction of this honourable count did conspire to commit felony, to wit: Armed Robbery, when they rob one Ajogbeje Ayodeji of his Ash coloured Sonata Hyundai car, phone and Laptop computer, on same date, day and place, they also rob one Oluwasegun Oke of his phone, as at the time of the robbery they were armed with guns and cutlasses”.
According to the charge, the offences are contrary to section 6(b) of the Robbery and Fire arms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap.R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
In his testimony before the court one of the victims, Ajogbeje Ayodeji said, “around 4:00 a.m, myself and two of my brothers were traveling from Erio Ekiti to Ido Ekiti, somewhere in the bush between Erio and Ido, we saw a barricade on the road, when we were thinking of what happened, we saw the defendants armed with guns and cutlasses, they pointed their guns at us and ordered us to lay face down, they collected the car key, my laptop and our phones, they entered the car and drove away.
“I first reported the case at Aramoko Police Station and later at Rapid Response Squard of the Nigerian Police Force in Ado Ekiti. I later received a call that the armed robbers have been arrested in Ibadan”, he concluded.
To proof his case, the prosecutor, Kunle –Shina Adeyemo called five witnesses and tendered defendants’ statements, one locally made single barrel, one locally made double barrel, six live catridges among others as exhibits.
The defendants spoke in their own defence through their lawyers Adeyinka Opaleke and Ezekiel Agunbiade, they called no witness.
In his judgement, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi said, “in the present case, I uphold the submission of the prosecution that there are sufficient facts from which common intention can be inferred through which defendants can be convicted and sentenced for conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
“On the whole, the defendants are found guilty as charged. Consequently, on count I,(Conspiracy) the defendants are sentenced to ten years imprisonment each and count 2 (Armed robbery) the defendants are to be hanged by the neck till they are dead, may God have mercy on your souls”. Justice Ogunyemi pronounced.
