An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday sentenced two men, Ojo Olasunkanmi, 31, and Obamoyegun Dele, 31, to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.
The convicts were arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery, contrary to Sections 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R11, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The court heard that the offences were committed on Aug. 11, 2018, at Oganganmodu area, off Igbole Road, Ido-Ekiti.
Delivering judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Omotoso ruled that the charge of conspiracy was established through the coordinated actions of the defendants toward a common criminal purpose.
“I resolve all the issues in favour of the prosecution against the defendants. Accordingly, the defendants are convicted as charged,” the judge said.
“For conspiracy and armed robbery, the sentence of this court is that the defendants, Ojo Tosin Olasunkanmi and Obamoyegun Dele, be hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God have mercy upon your souls,” he added.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Ola Ayeleso, told the court that the defendants, while armed with guns and axes, robbed residents including Apanisile Femi, Ojo Bosede and Omosanya Olusegun of mobile phones, laptops, a Sienna space bus and cash valued at N290,000.
One of the victims, Mrs Ojo Bosede, testified that the convicts gained entry into their residence at about 1:00 a.m. by posing as officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“They jumped through the fence and broke the burglary proof with a heavy stone to gain entrance,” she said.
The prosecution called nine witnesses and tendered exhibits, including a black axe, 15 SIM cards and the recovered vehicle.
The defendants, represented by their counsel, Ogunremi Opeyemi and Oluwatoyin Marcus, did not call any witnesses.A third defendant, Adewale David, 36, died during the pendency of the case.
