An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced three individuals to death by hanging for armed robbery.
The convicts—Alexander Solomon (29), Desmond Peter (29), and Eric Tile (30)—were found guilty on charges of conspiracy, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms.
A fourth defendant, Promise Shie (27), was acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking him to the crimes.
The convicts were arraigned on four charges, including conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms, in violation of Sections 6(b), 1(2), and 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. Rll, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The charges read, “That Alexander Solomon, Desmond Peter, Eric Tile and Promise Shie on 7th July 2022 along Ilumoba-Aisegba Ekiti Road, Aisegba Ekiti did conspire to commit armed robbery and unlawfully possessed firearms, to wit Beretta pistol.
“The defendants, while armed with guns, robbed Okey Jude and Jayeoba Ayobami of their belongings such as laptops, phones and N540,000 cash among others.”
In his statement to the police, Jude said they were drivers and representatives of a marketing company.
He said, “We left Ado Ekiti for the Akoko area of Ondo State at about 3 pm after the day’s sales. We were stopped between Ilumoba and Aisegba Ekiti by the defendants.
“Initially, we thought they were vigilante members enforcing COVID-19 rules, but at gunpoint, they asked us to lay face down, they searched the vehicle and carted away all our phones, laptops, N540,000 cash and other things I could not remember.
“We narrated our ordeal to O’dua Peoples Congress members that we met at a roadblock, while we were with them, the robbers drove past, and the OPC members gave them a chase while we went to the nearest police station to make a formal complaint.”
The prosecutor, Gbemiga Adaramola, called four witnesses and tendered two guns, phones, laptops, cutlasses, axes, and facemasks among others as exhibits.
The defendants, who spoke in their defence through their respective lawyers, called no witnesses.
In the judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said, “I hold that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms against the first, second and third defendants.
“Consequently, for the offence of armed robbery, they are all sentenced to death by hanging, may the Lord have mercy on your souls.”
Justice Omotoso, who said the prosecution failed to establish any of the offences against the fourth defendant (Promise Shie), pronounced, “He is accordingly discharged and acquitted.”
(Punch)
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