By Precious Oham
A High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday sentenced five men charged with armed robbery to death by hanging.
The court convicted Ojo Tope, Danilola Christopher, Joshua Adegoke, Aderopo Temitope and Oyedele Oluwatobi.
Delivering judgment, Justice O.O Olatawura held that the five defendants were found guilty of conspiracy, murder and armed robbery.
The offences were committed by the convicts on the 18th day of August,2021 at Agogo Street, llupeju Avenue, Odo-Ado, Ado-Ekiti where the following people were robbed: Ajiboye Olajide, Lateef Temidayo Busari and Akeem lsiaka of their money, laptop computers, mobile phones and other valuables.
In the process of the robbery, the five convicts also killed the street night guard, named Joseph Blessing.
The five convicts were arrested and charged to Court with the offences of conspiracy, murder and qrmed robbery contrary to Section 516A of the Criminal Code Law, Cap.C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, Section 319 of the same Law & Section 1 (2)( a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap.R11, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The Defendants were convicted and sentenced to death and imprisonment for 21 years respectively on all the 4 Counts.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibare, Esq who prosecuted the case on behalf of Ekiti State called 4 witnesses and tendered 13 Exhibits to prove his case before the trial Judge.
Adeyinka Opaleke represented the defendants and each of them gave evidence without calling additional witnesses.
The Honourable Court after thoroughly evaluated the evidence led delivered judgement and held that the Prosecution proved the 2 counts of armed robbery, murder and conspiracy against all the five defendants beyond reasonable doubt .
The Hon. Judge consequently convicted all the defendants and sentenced them death by hanging for armed robbery and nurder and 21 years improvement for conspiracy.
