Ekiti: Four to Die for Theft at Gunpoint

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced four persons to death by hanging for dispossessing their victims of phones, necklace, wristwatches and other valuables at gunpoint.

The defendants, who were convicted for armed robbery and other offences, are Dada Ajayi (22), Mathew Osalade (23), Adebisi Ogundare (23) and Busayo Adeniyi (23).

The defendants were arraigned on August 24, 2020 on seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, attempted murder and cultism contrary to sections 516, 402(2) and 320 of the Criminal Code Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012 and Section 4(1) of the Secret Cults (Abolition and Prohibition) First Amendment Law, No. 6, 2017.

According to the charge, “the convicts on 1st day of January, 2019 at Odo-Ado Area of Ado Ekiti, did conspire to commit armed robbery on Ezeaku Mary, Ige Joshua and Abdulmalik Hassan and as well attempted to murder one Olajide Babatunde. They were as well found to be members of a prohibited society called Eiye Confraternity.

“While armed with offensive weapons such as guns, axe and knives, they dispossessed the victims of their belongings such as, phones, necklace, wristwatch, cash sum of N30,500 among others,” the charge read.

One of the victims, Ige Joshua, who testified before the court said, “We were coming from a show in Ekute Quarters of Ado Ekiti around 4am, we boarded a bike billed to take us to Odo-Ado. When we were approaching Odo-Ado area, he suddenly stopped at a lonely place.

“Before we asked what happened, other boys came out of their hiding, they pointed guns at us, some of them held axe and knives, they robbed us of our phones, necklace, wristwatch and other valuables. The matter was reported at the police station before they were later arrested,” the victim said.

The prosecutor, Albert Adeyemi, who called six witnesses, tendered the defendants’ statements, one locally made pistol, one live ammunition, two axes, two cutlasses, 12 handset among others as exhibit.

The defendants, who spoke in their defence through their counsel called no witness.

In his judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said, “I resolve the sole issue for determination in this case partially in favour of the prosecutor and against the defendants, they were found guilty of the offences of conspiracy, armed robbery and attempted murder.

“The punishment for armed robbery is death. For the offence of armed robbery, the sentence of this court upon the defendants is that they be hanged by the neck until they be dead, may God have mercy on your souls.”

The court also sentenced the defendants to life imprisonment for attempted murder and seven years imprisonment each for offence of conspiracy.