An Ekiti High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a 37-year-old man, Ayeni Kazeem, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
Justice Lekan Olatawura delivered the judgment after finding Kazeem guilty on a five-count charge of armed robbery.
The prosecution told the court that the convict, on Oct. 2, 2024, at the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Ikere-Ekiti, robbed five students of their mobile phones while armed with a gun.
The stolen phones, belonging to Adewale Moyinoluwa, Ogunbolude Oluwanifemi, Ojo Oluwamayowa, Sidiq Simbiat and Oloruntoba Nifemi, included an Infinix Smart 7, Itel A04, Infinix Smart 6, Samsung Galaxy S6 and Tecno Pop 8, valued at ₦680,000.
The offences contravened Section 312(2)(a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
One of the victims, Adewale, told the court that the robber forced his way into their room at about 9:10 p.m., wielding a double-barrel pistol. He said the assailant loaded the gun with cartridges after they initially thought it was a prank and ordered them to surrender their phones before fleeing.
The prosecutor, Mr Salem Bade-Gboyega, called seven witnesses and tendered the defendant’s confessional statements, a lemon-green hoodie cardigan, ATM cards and a search warrant as exhibits.
The defendant, represented by Mr Amir Salami, testified in his defence but called no witnesses, urging the court to temper justice with mercy.
In his judgment, Justice Olatawura held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and found the defendant guilty on all counts.
The judge said the convict showed no remorse throughout the trial and noted that the law prescribed a mandatory sentence for the offence.
He consequently sentenced Kazeem to death by hanging
