Three individuals, Omotayo Deji, Chidiebere Ifeanyi, and Bolaji Usman, have been sentenced to death by hanging by the Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti.
They were found guilty of conspiracy and armed robbery. The defendants were charged with robbing Ademiloye Stephen, Olokuntoye Temitope, and Ajayi Kolade of their possessions, including phones, a laptop computer, sandals, phone chargers, and power banks.
The robbery took place on May 6, 2019, at Aba Erinfun, Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti. The defendants were armed with a cutlass and a wooden plank.
These actions violated Sections 6 (b) and 1 (2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The defendants were arraigned before Justice Bamidele Omotoso on January 21, 2020.
One of the victims in his statement to the police, said: “We were sleeping in our room at about 2:30 a.m., suddenly, I heard a loud sound on the door, immediately, we woke up, I saw the defendants armed with cutlass and wooden plank, immediately, they broke the electric bulb with the plank in their hand. They commanded us to lay face down and bring out all our money. We told them that we are students and we don’t have money, but they started beating us on our backs with sticks and cutlasses.
“Thereafter, they started collecting our phones, laptops, chargers, sandals, power banks and others I could not remember and ran away. We were later shouting for help but nobody came out.”
In order to support the case, the police prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented a single witness and submitted statements from both the victims and defendants, along with other items such as phones, as evidence.
The defendants, represented by their lawyers, chose not to call any witnesses and instead testified themselves.
Justice Bamidele Omotoso said in his judgment: “I am of the strong opinion that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of armed robbery against the defendants.
“They are hereby found guilty as charged and convicted for the offence of armed robbery.
“The sentence of the court upon you, Omotayo Deji, Chidiebere Ifeanyi, and Bolaji Usman is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and may the Lord have mercy on your souls.”
