Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi of the Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced two individuals to death by hanging for armed robbery.
The convicts, Olusegun Folorunso and Ajayi Dele, were tried on three counts, including conspiracy and armed robbery.
According to the prosecution, the duo committed the crime on August 24, 2022, along Erio Ekiti Road.
They were accused of robbing Ajogbeje Ayodeji of his ash-colored Hyundai Sonata, phone, and laptop, as well as stealing a phone from another victim, Oluwasegun Oke.
The defendants were armed with guns and cutlasses during the attack.
The offenses were in violation of Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
During the trial, Ajogbeje Ayodeji recounted the harrowing experience, stating that he and his brothers were traveling around 4 a.m. from Erio Ekiti to Ido Ekiti when they encountered a roadblock. As they stopped to assess the situation, the armed robbers emerged, held them at gunpoint, and ordered them to the ground before making away with their valuables and vehicle.
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Ayodeji reported the incident to the Aramoko Police Station and later to the Rapid Response Squad in Ado Ekiti.
The suspects were eventually apprehended in Ibadan.
The prosecution, led by Kunle Adeyemo, presented five witnesses and submitted various exhibits, including statements from the defendants, a locally made single-barrel gun, a locally made double-barrel gun, and six live cartridges.
The defense counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke and Ezekiel Agunbiade, did not call any witnesses on behalf of the accused.
In his ruling, Justice Ogunyemi found the defendants guilty, stating that the prosecution had established their culpability beyond reasonable doubt.
“For conspiracy to commit armed robbery, the defendants are each sentenced to 10 years in prison. For armed robbery, they are to be hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God have mercy on your souls,” the judge declared.
