A high court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state, has convicted and sentenced three people to death by hanging for armed robbery.
Five defendants, Bidemi Babalola, Oluwaseun Akinwale, Sola Oyebanji, Azeez Jimoh, and Babatunde Ogunlade were initially arraigned before justice Lekan Ogunmoye but in delivering judgement, Babalola Bidemi was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment while setting Akinwale Oluwaseun was set free.
The five men, whose addresses were not provided, were arraigned on January 30, 2020, on five counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, possession of firearms, receiving stolen properties and membership of a secret cult.
Delivering his judgment, the trial judge said “in all, the sole issue for determination is resolved in part in favour of the prosecutor.
According to the charge, “the defendants on 3/10/2018 at Oke Oniyo Street, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire to commit felony, to wit; armed robbery.”
On the said date, they robbed one Tijani Omowumi and Ogunrinde Olumide of their phones, plasma television, wrist watch, necklace, shirts, trousers, shuttle bag, and cash sum of N5, 000, among others.
“As at the time of the robbery, they were armed with big stick, club, stone, cutlasses and gun, the offences are contrary to Sections 6 (b), 1(2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap.RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Section 4 (1) of the Secret Cults (Abolition and Prohibition) (First Amendment) Law, No. 6 of 2017”.
