The Ado-Ekiti High Court has sentenced four persons to death by hanging for armed robbery and other offences.

The convicts are; Ojo Ajayi, 22, Matthew Osalade, 23, Adebisi Ogundare, 23, and Busayo Adeniyi, 23.

On August 24, 2020, the defendants were arraigned before Justice Bamidele Omotoso on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, attempted murder and cultism.

The offences were said to have contravened sections 516, 402(2) and 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.

According to the charge, on January 1, 2019, the convicts in the Odo-Ado area of Ado Ekiti conspired to commit armed robbery on Mary Ezeaku, Joshua Ige and Hassan Abdulmalik.

They were also said to have attempted to murder one Olajide Babatunde, aside from being found to be members of a prohibited society called Eieye Confraternity.

The charge also said they were armed with offensive weapons, such as guns, axe and knives and that they dispossessed the victims of their belongings, including phones, necklaces, wristwatches, and cash of N30,500, among others.

One of the victims, Joshua Ige, testified before the court, saying they boarded a motorcycle when returning from a show in Ekure Quarters in Ado Ekiti when a motorcyclist stopped them.

“Before we knew what was happening, some boys had come out of their hiding and pointed a gun at us. Some of them held axe and knives with which they robbed us of our phones, necklace, wristwatch and other valuables.

“The matter was reported at the police station before they were later arrested.”

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Albert Adeyemi, called six witnesses and tendered the defendants’ statements, one locally-made pistol, one live ammunition, two axes, two cutlasses and 12 handsets, among others, as exhibits.

The defendants spoke in their defence through their counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, of Ekiti State Coordinator of Legal Aid Council, while they called no witnesses.

“They are found guilty of the offences of conspiracy, armed robbery and attempted murder.

“The punishment for armed robbery is death. The sentence of this court upon the defendants is that they be hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God have mercy on your souls.” the judge said. 

Mr Omotoso also sentenced the convicts to life imprisonment for attempted murder and seven years imprisonment each for conspiracy. 

(NAN)