For conspiracy and armed robbery, an Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has condemned three young men to death by hanging.
On January 21, 2020, Omotayo Deji (age 23), Chidiebere Ifeanyin (age 25), and Bolaji Usman (age 28) were charged with four counts of conspiracy and armed robbery in front of the court presided over by Justice Bamidele Omotoso.
The defendants allegedly conspired to commit a felony, namely, armed robbery, on May 6, 2019 at Aba Erinfun, Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti in the Ado Ekiti Judicial Division. They allegedly robbed Ademiloye Stephen, Olokuntoye Temitope, and Ajayi Kolade of their belongings, including phones, laptops, sandals, phone chargers, and power banks
They were reportedly carrying a cutlass and wooden boards when they committed the crime.
Sections 6 (b) and 1 (2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, are violated by the offenses, according to the allegation.
In his statement to the police, one of the victims stated, “We were sleeping in our room at 2:30 a.m. when suddenly, I heard a loud sound on the door and instantly woke up to discover the defendants armed with cutlass and wooden planks.
‘’With the plank in their hands, they instantly smashed the lightbulb, ordered us to lay face down, and told us to get all of our money. They began striking us in the back with sticks and cutlasses when we explained that we were students without money. Following that, they began to gather our phones, laptops, chargers, sandals, power banks, and other things I couldn’t recall before fleeing. Later, we yelled for assistance, but no one emerged,” he said.
The defendants spoke in their own defense through their attorneys and did not call any witnesses, whereas the prosecution, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called one witness and offered statements from the victims and defendants as well as phones as exhibits to prove his case.
“I am of the strong opinion that the prosecution has proved beyond a reasonable doubt the offence of Armed Robbery against the defendants,” Justice Omotoso said in delivering his ruling.
They are hereby declared guilty of the offense of Armed Robbery and found guilty as charged.
Omotayo Deji, Chidiebere Ifeanyin, and Bolaji Usman were given the following sentence by the court: “May the Lord have mercy on your souls. Hanged by the neck until death.”
