Ekiti court sentences 51-year-old man to death for armed robbery

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, on Thursday sentenced a 51-year-old man, Owoeye Ojo, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

Ojo was arraigned before the court on 25th August 2023 on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder and armed robbery.

The charge read, “The defendants and others at large on 21st of May, 2023 at Oluwole Orungbe Street in Ado Ekiti did conspire to commit armed robbery and attempt to murder one Adeyemi Funmilayo and Adesola Omolola.

“The defendant and others at large robbed the victim of her handbag containing a yet-to-be-ascertained sum of money and a handset valued at N85,000.

“Also on 12th May 2023 at Ilokun in Ado Ekiti, the defendant and others at large did rob Adesola Omolola of her laptop, phones, flash drives, and a cash sum of N10,000 among others. At the time of the robbery, they were armed with guns, cutlasses and axe.

“The offences are contrary to sections 314, 312(2)(b), 241 and 312 (a) of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021”.

In his testimony before the court, one of the victims, Adesola Omolola said, “I was about going to bed in my house at about 8 pm that day, but one of my sons was outside, I was trying to lock the door from behind, I discovered there was a push outside, I opened the door to know why the door was not closed, I saw the defendant and others holding guns, cutlasses and axe.

“I was ordered to lay face down, they ordered my eldest son to lead them inside the room where they carted away my valuables and cash worth N710,000.

“After they left, I reported the matter at Oke Ila Police Station. A week later, I heard some armed robbers had been arrested in the neighbourhood. When I visited the office of the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigeria Police Force, I saw and identified the defendant as one of the robbers who robbed my house,” she concluded.

The prosecutor, O.F Ajumobi, called four witnesses and tendered one single-barrel gun, live cartridges, a statement of the defendant, and pictures of the victims, among others as exhibits.

The defendant, who spoke through his counsel, Lawrence Fasanmi, called no witnesses.

In the judgment, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said, “With the believable evidence before the court, the prosecution had established that there was robbery in the premises of the victims, the defendant was one of those who took part in the armed robbery and there was an agreement between him and others.

“The prosecution has, therefore, proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the offences as charged.

“Consequently, the defendant is hereby sentenced to death by hanging, may God have mercy upon his soul,” the judge pronounced.