An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division on Wednesday sentenced four men to death for armed robbery.
The convicts, Segun Friday (39), Tijani Seun (27), Ogunyemi Olarewaju (29) and Adebayo Tope (23) were tried and found guilty on two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.
The charge read, “The defendants on December 24, 2018 at Irare Village, Erinmope in Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State, within the jurisdiction of this court. conspired to commit felony, also on the same day and date did rob one Adeleke Abiodun of his Bajaj motorcycle. As of the time of the robbery, they were armed with offensive weapons including a piece of wood.
“The offences contravene Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act. Cap. RII, Vol. 14 and Section 1(2) (a) Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act. Cap. RII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” it stated.
In his testimony before the court, the victim, who described himself as a motorcyclist, narrated how the four men conspired together, strangulated him and disposed him of his motorbike.
He said, “Later, I saw a man and his wife coming from their farm on motorcycle, I told them what happened, they raised the alarm and the villagers came out. They combed the surroundings which led to arrest of one of them.
“Thereafter, he was handed over to the police. He later led the police to the Atikankan area of Ado Ekiti where other members of the gang were arrested, but the motorcycle was nowhere to be found up till today”, he concluded.
The prosecutor, Julius Ajibare, called three witnesses and tendered the defendants’ statements as exhibits.
The defendants, who spoke through their counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, called no witness.
In the judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye said, “This is an evidence of direct plot between the conspirators. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants indeed took steps to achieve the agreed task of robbery.”
“From the evidence placed before the court by the complainant, he has established beyond reasonable doubt the meeting of mind of the defendants to dispossess the owner of a motorcycle.
The four defendants were found guilty in count one (conspiracy) and count two (armed robbery) as charged. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants are hereby sentenced to death.