Not less than three persons have been sentenced to death by hanging by an Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti on Monday.
The three persons, Oyebanji Sola, Jimoh Azeez, and Ogunlade Babatunde, were accused of armed robbery.
Also, on Monday, 28-year-old Babalola Bidemi was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for receiving stolen goods.
It, however, discharged and acquitted another, 26-year-old Akinwale Oluwaseun, of all the charges for being innocent.
According to the PUNCH, the five defendants were arraigned on January 30, 2020, on five counts bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, receiving stolen properties, and membership of a secret cult.
The charge stated, “the defendants, Babalola Bidemi (28); Akinwale Oluwaseun (26); Oyebanji Sola (31); Jimoh Azeez (31) and Ogunlade Babatunde (28) on October 3, 2018, at Oke Oniyo Street, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did conspire to commit felony, to wit; armed robbery.
“The defendants, on the same date, did rob Tijani Omowumi and Ogunrinde Olumide of their phones, Plasma television, wristwatch, necklace, shirts, trousers, shuttle bag, and a cash sum of N5,000, among others.
“As of the time of the robbery, they were armed with a big stick, club, stone, daggers, and gun. The offences are contrary to Sections 6(b), 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap.RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Section 4(1) of the Secret Cults (Abolition and Prohibition) ( First Amendment) Law, No. 6 of 2017.”
In her statement to the police, one of the victims said two men holding a stick and cutlass attacked her in her room, slapped and beat her with a stick, and took away her Plasma television, phones, bag, N5,000 cash, and others.
The victim stated that the two dragged her out to rape her but were discouraged by another member of the gang, following which she went to the police station the following day to make a formal report.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Dolapo Oyewole, called five witnesses and tendered defendants’ statements, phones, wraps of Indian hemp, and motorcycle with ignition, among others, as exhibits.
The defendants spoke in defense through their respective lawyers and called two witnesses.
Adeyinka Opaleke, who was counsel for Akinwale Oluwaseun, in his submission, proved his innocence of the alleged offense.
In his judgment, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said, “In all, the sole issue for determination is resolved in part in favor of the prosecution. I accordingly order as follows: the first defendant (Babalola Bidemi), though a first offender, was the one who encouraged the offense of armed robbery in that he knew that the item received by him was a product of armed robbery. His sentence should serve as a deterrent. He is accordingly sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
“The second defendant, Akinwale Oluwaseun, is discharged and acquitted in all the charges, while the 3rd, 4th, and 5th defendants, Oyebanji Sola, Jimoh Azeez and Ogunlade Babatunde, are found guilty as charged. They are hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” the judge ordered.
