A 36-year-old driver, Sulaiman Olabode, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempted robbery by an Ikeja High Court.
The verdict was delivered by Justice O.A. Ogala on Monday following a plea bargain application made by the defendant.
Initially pleading not guilty to a count of armed robbery during the first arraignment, Olabode chose to pursue a plea bargain agreement as the trial progressed.
The decision came after the prosecution counsel presented three witnesses during the trial.
During the court hearing, the prosecution informed the court about the one-count amended charge, revealing that Olabode attempted to rob Adedeji Oluwaseun of his Nokia X Windows phone on September 18, 2016, at No. 34 Gbeleyi Street, Alakuko, Lagos State.
The prosecution argued that this act violated Section 298(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Olabode, acknowledging his guilt, pleaded guilty to the charge.
In light of the guilty plea, the prosecution counsel urged the court to impose the full extent of the plea bargain agreed upon by the defendant.
Consequently, Justice Ogala found Olabode guilty and handed down a 14-year prison sentence, effective from October 28, 2016, the day of remand.
