From News Editor
An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced four persons to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.
According to the charge, five persons, namely, Ojo Tope (37), Aderopo Temitope (37), Oyedele Oluwatobi (27), Damilola Christopher (30) and Ekundayo Ajiboye (29) were arraigned before Justice Lekan Olatawura on 16/4/2024 on five count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.
The charge reads that, the convicts on 3rd of August, 2021 at Ilutitun Street, along Dammy Guest House, Ikere Ekiti within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire to rob Taye Adegboye, Idowu Damilola, Idowu Tolulope and Ganiyu Abimbola of their belongings such as laptops, phones, power bank and charger, jewelries, sound system, cash sum of one hundred and thirty six thousand naira among others, as at the time of the robbery, they were armed with guns.
In his statement to the police, one of the victims, Idowu Oluwadamilola said, I was sleeping in my room around 12 midnight, I was hearing that some people were forcing their way into my room, I climbed and hid in the ceiling, when they entered, they told my brother that we were two in the room, they threatened to shoot him if he refused to produced me, immediately I came down from the ceiling, I was beaten seriously for daring them, thereafter, they collected our laptop computers, phones, power bank and chargers, all the money in the house, MP3 radio and other things I cannot remember.I, alongside other victims went to report at Ilupeju police station the following day.
In February 2022, I was in my house when I saw the defendants who led team of policemen to my house already confessed to have robbed me in the previous year, he concluded.
To proof his case, the prosecutor, Oluwaseun Olasanmi called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements as exhibits. The defendants spoke through their counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke and others, they called no witness.
In his judgment, Justice Lekan Olatawura said, in this Instance case, the 1st to 4th defendants, all confessed individually to have conspired to committing armed robbery at the property occupied by the victims.
In all, I find that the prosecution has prove beyond reasonable doubt that the 1st to 4th defendants committed the offences, and in consequence thereof, the sentence of this court is that you, Ojo Tope, Aderopo Temitope, Oyedele Oluwatobi and Damilola Christopher be hanged by the neck until they be dead, may God have mercy on your souls.
I found no iota of evidence linking the 5th defendants to the commission of any of the offences as charged, accordingly, Ekundayo Ajiboye is hereby discharged and acquitted, the judge pronounced.
