An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, on Wednesday sentenced two persons to death by hanging for armed robbery.
The defendants Ojo Olasunkanmi (31) and Obamoyegun Dele (31) were arraigned on 31 January 2020, alongside Adewale David (36), who died during the pendency of the case, on six counts bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery as amended on 25 March 2025.
The charge read that the defendants, who were armed with guns and axes, on 11 August 2018, at Oganganmodu, off Igbole Road, Ido Ekiti, conspired to commit armed robbery and on the same day and place robbed different people of their belongings, including phones, a Sienna Space Bus, a DVD player and various amounts of cash.
The prosecution stated that ‘the offences are contrary to Sections 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004’.
In her testimony before the court, one of the victims, Bosede Ojo, who gave graphic details of how the robbery incident happened, said the robbery attack took place around 1 am when the robbers impersonated NDLEA officers and ordered them (victims) to open the gate, following which they scaled the fence, broke the burglaries and robbed the occupants of valuables.
She said, ‘We reported the incident at the police station on the following day’.
The prosecutor, O.B. Ayeleso, called nine witnesses and tendered defendants’ statements, one black axe, 15 SIM cards, phones, a Toyota Sienna space bus, and photographs, among others, as exhibits.
The defendants, who spoke in their own defence through their counsels, Opeyemi Ogunremi and Marcus Oluwatoyin, called no witness.
In his judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso, who resolved all the issues in favour of the prosecution, said, ‘Accordingly, the defendants are convicted as charged.
‘For conspiracy and armed robbery, the sentence of this court is that the defendants- Ojo Tosin Olasunkanmi and Obamoyegun Dele – be hanged by the neck until they are dead, may God have mercy upon your souls’, the judge pronounced.
In March, a High Court in Plateau State sentenced two persons, Thomas Danboyi and Pam Lang, to death by hanging for their roles in the killing of one Chung Bot.
In the case, State vs. Thomas Danboyi & Pam Lang (Charge No. PLD/J112C/2010), the court found the defendants guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
