An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced two persons, Benjamin Joseph (32), and Stephen Orban (25) to death by hanging.
The convicts were arraigned before Justice Blessing Ajileye on 30th December, 2022 on four count charge bordering on Conspiracy and Armed Robbery.
The charge reads that the defendants on 16/08/2022 along Iluomoba Road, Aisegba Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire to commit felony, to wit; Armed Robbery, as at the time of the robbery, they were armed with locally made gun, knives, and cutlasses and did rob Daramola Chistianah and Ajayi Alaba of their belongings such as phones, power bank, creams, drugs, ATM Cards, cash sum of N105, 000.00 among others.
The offences are contrary to Sections 6 (b) and 1(2) (a) of the robbery and firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
In her testimony before the court, one of the victims said, I am a trader, I was conveying my goods from Omuo to Ado Ekiti, on getting to Aisegba Ekiti, I discovered the road has been barricaded, I first thought it was the night guards or the Police, immediately we stopped, four armed men came out of the bush, they asked us to come out, they collected our phones, power bank, other valuables and cash sum of N105, 000.00 and ran into the bush, while I was rescued by a sympathizer, the driver drove back to Omuo and made formal complain to the Police, she concluded.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Ibironke Odetola called six witnesses and tendered charms, phones, camouflage underwear, harmer, three face cover, fake Dollars, cutlasses among others as exhibits, while the defendants spoke in their own defence through their lawyer, Adeyinka Opaleke, and they called no witness.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Blessing Ajileye said, ‘’ it is my view that the use of which the cutlass, daggers, iron rods were put to use made them offensive weapons and I so hold’’.
Upon the premise, I therefore find that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that there was armed robbery on 16/08/ 2022. Consequently, the sentence of this court upon Benjamin Joseph and Stephen Orban is that they be hanged by the neck until they be dead, may God have mercy on your souls, the judge pronounced.
