An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one Bello Abduquadril to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.
The 30 – year old convict was arraigned before Justice Olalekan Olatawura on 8th March, 2023 on two count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.
The charge reads that Bello Abdulquadril and others at large on 22/03/22 at Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did conspire to commit Armed Robbery and on the same date, time and place did rob one Owolabi Taiwo of his phone and Jincheng Lady Motorcycle, at the time of the robbery, you were armed with offensive weapons, to wit, Gun and cutlass.
According to the charge, the offences are contrary to sections 314 and 312 (2)(a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
In his evidence before the court, the victim said, “myself and my brother were on our Lady Bike with registration GED 933 QD, going home on that day, on our way, we suddenly saw two men on Bajaj motorcycle, they blocked us, immediately, they brought out a gun and cutlass, they were beating us with the cutlass and threatened to kill us if we fail to cooperate, thereafter, they dispossessed us of phone and the Lady Bike and ran away with it, we went to report the case at Amotekuns office.
“On the second day, I received a call from Iyara Police Station in Kogi State to come there with my phone and motorcycle receipts, I went to the Police Headquarters in Ado Ekiti to inform them, they made all necessary arrangement and left for Kogi State, after documentation and verification of the receipts, the phone, the motorcycle and the suspect were released to the policemen from Ekiti”, he concluded.
To proof his case, the prosecutor Adeola Johnson called three witnesses and tendered defendant statements, motocycle particulars, receipts, search warrant among others as exhibit. The defendant spoke through his lawyer E.K. Adetifa who pleaded to court to temper justice with mercy, he called no witness.
In his judgment, Justice Olalekan Olatawura said, the prosecution having established that both of them participated in the crime, it can be rightly inferred and I so hold that there was a common intention and a meeting of minds between the defendant and accomplice at large to commit armed robbery.
“I am therefore satisfied that the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant conspired with another person to commit the offence.
“Consequent upon the foregoing, the defendant is found guilt of the offences of conspiracy and armed robbery as charged.
“On conspiracy, the defendant is sentenced to 7 years imprisonment and in count 2 (Armed Robbery) the sentence of the count upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you be dead and may God have mercy on your soul”, the judge said.
