Ekiti Court Sentences Four To Death By Hanging
- For conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism
For armed robbery and other related offences, an Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado-Ekiti State, has sentenced four persons, Ojo Ajayi 22, Matthew Osalade 23, Adebisi Ogundare 23 and Busayo Adeniyi 23, to death by hanging
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Bamidele Omotoso on August 24, 2020, on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, attempted murder and cultism.
According to the charge sheet, the offences contravened Sections 516, 402(2), 320, of the Criminal Code Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, of Nigeria 2012 and section 4(1) of the Secret Cults (Abolition and Prohibition) First Amendment Law, No. 6, 2017.
The prosecution said the convicts had on January 1, 2019 at Odo-Ado Area of Ado Ekiti, conspired to rob Mary Ezeaku, Joshua Ige and Hassan Abdulmalik with arms.
Also, aside being accused of attempting to murder one Olajide Babatunde, they were as well found to be members of a Prohibited Society called Eieye confraternity.
It was further reported that while armed with offensive weapons such as guns, axe and knives, the defendants dispossessed the victims of their belongings, such as, phones, necklace, wristwatch, and cash sum totalling N30,500 among others.
One of the victims, Joshua Ige, in his testimony told the court that; “We were coming from a show in Ekute Quarters of Ado Ekiti around 4:00 am, we boarded a bike to take us to Odo-Ado when we are approaching Odo Ado area, he suddenly stopped at a lonely place, before we asked what happened, other boys came out of their hidings.
“They pointed gun at us, some of them held axes and knives, they robbed us of our phones, necklace, wristwatch and other valuables.
“The matter was then reported at the Police station before they were later arrested.”
To proof his case, the prosecutor, Albert Adeyemi called six witnesses, and tendered defendants’ statements, one locally made pistol, one live ammunition, two axes, two cutlasses, twelve handset among others as exhibit.
Making their own submission through their counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, who is the Ekiti State Coordinator of the Legal Aid Council, the defendants did not call
any witness during their trial.
In delivering his judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso pronounced thus; ‘’I resolve the sole issue for determination in this case partially in favour of the prosecutor and against the defendants.
“They are found guilty of the offences of conspiracy, armed robbery and attempted murder’’
Further pronouncing punishment for the accused persons, Justice Omotoso said; “For the offence of armed robbery, the sentence of this court upon the defendants is that they are hanged by the neck until they are dead.
“May God have mercy on your souls, they were sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted murder and seven years imprisonment each for the offence of conspiracy”.
