Justice Omotoso of Ekiti State High Court has sentenced three persons to die by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.
The defendants were arraigned on four counts charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms, contrary to Sections 6(b), 1(2) and 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions), Act., Cap. Rll, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The charges read that, Alexander Solomon (29), Desmond Peter (29), Eric Tile (30) and Promise Shie (27) on 7th July, 2022 along Ilumoba-Aisegba Ekiti Road, Aisegba Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court did conspire to commit armed robbery and unlawfully possessed firearms, to wit Barretta Pistol. While armed with guns, they robbed Okey Jude and Jayeoba Ayobami of their belongings, such as; laptops, phones, cash sum of #540,000 among others.
In his statement to the Police, one of the victims, Okey Jude said, both of us are driver and representative of a marketing company, we left Ado Ekiti to Akoko area of Ondo State around 3:00 p.m after the day’s sales. We were stopped between Ilumoba and Aisegba Ekiti by the defendants, we first thought, they were vigilante members enforcing COVID 19 rules, when we got to them, at gun point we were asked to lay face down, they searched everywhere in the vehicle and carted away all our phones, laptops and cash sum of #540,000 and other things I could not remember and left.
We narrated our ordeal to OPC members we met at a road block, while we were with them, the robbers zoomed off, the OPC members were chasing them and we went to the nearest Police station to make formal complaint, he concluded.
To proof his case, the prosecutor, Gbemiga Adaramola called four witnesses and tendered two guns, phones, laptops, Cutlass, axe, facemasks among others as exhibit, the defendants spoke in their own defense through their respective lawyers, they called no witness.
Delivering his judgement, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said, I hold that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms against the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants. Consequently, for offence of conspiracy and armed robbery, they were all sentenced to death by hanging, may the Lord have mercy on your souls. The 2nd and 3rd defendants are sentenced to five years imprisonment with #10,000 option of fine.
Justice Omotoso said, the prosecution has failed to establish any of the offences against the 4th defendant (Promise Shie) he is accordingly discharged and acquitted, he pronounced.