Crime

Mechanic, 29, sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery in Ogun

Published

December 18, 2020

An Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa have sentenced a 29-year-old mechanic, Sola Emorua, to death by hanging for robbery of kerosene and petrol laden tankers in the state.

Emorua was first arraigned by the police before Justice Isiaka Adeleke on two counts of conspiracy and armed robbery on January 29, 2018.

According to reports, during the hearing on Thursday, December 17, 2020, Prosecution lawyer from the Ministry of Justice, Mrs Motolani Sokefun, said Emorua and others at large, about 5.30 pm on May 7, 2015, at Ayorunto Area, Ilesha/Akure Expressway, Osu, robbed Ismaila Azeez of his tanker (XV 298 APP) loaded with 33,000 litres of kerosene.

Sokefun said a few weeks later, Emorua and his gang robbed another petrol-laden at the same spot. Unfortunately, they were intercepted by the police and two members of the gang arrested.

The prosecutor called three witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including a confessional statement of the convict, circumstantial evidence and evidence of eyewitness to the crime.

However, Emorua’s lawyer, Kehinde Aworele, said the confessional statement was denied by the convict. He claimed that the two statements were written by policemen and after a prolonged torture, the convict signed it.

Emorua also claimed to be a mechanic and had come to Ilesha to repair a vehicle, but was arrested by the police while returning to his base in Ore, Ondo State.

However, Justice Isiaka Adeleke said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and found Emorua guilty on the two charges preferred against him. He, therefore, sentenced him to death by hanging for robbery and conspiracy.