An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced three persons to death by hanging.
The condemned inmates, Lasisi Afeez aka Yemi SARS (33), Ilesanmi Seun (32) and Ajewole Peter (53) were arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on four count charge bordering on conspiracy, Armed Robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.
According to the charge, the offences were contrary to section 314, 312 (2) (b) and 344 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
The charge reads that the defendants on 29th March, 2022 at Ado Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while armed with offensive weapons such as guns and cutlasses did rob one Ojo Dada Emmanuel of his Toyota Corolla car, wedding ring, ATM cards, Infinix phone, Two Laptops and #70,000 cash, also on same date, place and time did rob Balogun Ahmed of his Infinix phone, Itel phone and cash sum of #2,200. On the day of the incident, they were found having in their possession one long double Barrel gun and live cartridges without a lawful permit.
In his testimony before the court, one of the victims, Ojo Dada Emmanuel said, I was in my hospital around 11:00pm, I was preparing to perform a medical operation in the theatre. Suddenly, I saw the defendants, they did not cover their faces, they ordered us to lay face down, one of them held a pistol while the other one held a long double barrel gun, they were beating me, so also, the patient and his relative that was with us, at gun point, they collected my phone, my wedding ring, #70, 000 cash with the hospital cashier and they left with my Toyota Corolla car valued #3M, inside the car were my my bank ATM’s and two laptops.
I reported the incident at the police station, I later heard the car has been sold by the defendants but has been retrieved by the police, I confirmed the chassis number because the registration plate number DEA 722 AA has been removed by the armed robbers, he concluded.
To proof his case, the prosecutor, Julius Ajibare called three witnesses and tendered car documents, one gun, phones, live cartridges among others as exhibits, while defendants spoke in their own defence through their respective counsels, they called no witness.
In his judgement, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said, I am in agreement with the position of the prosecutor that it was clear from the defendants confessional statements vide the tendered exhibits that they planned to rob at Maxwell Hospital, located at Ifesowapo Street, Nova Road Ado Ekiti.
In all, the sole issue for determination is resolved partly in favour of the prosecution, it has succeeded in proving its case in counts 1, 2 and 3, (Conspiracy and Armed Robbery). Therefore they were discharged and acquitted in count four.
Consequently, the judgment of this court upon the defendants on counts 1, 2 and 3 is that, they be hanged by the neck until they be dead, May God Almighty have mercy upon your souls, Justice Ogunmoye pronounced.
