Court sentences three to death by hanging for stealing phones, chargers, laptops, sandals and power banks in Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, May 15, sentenced three persons to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.  

The defendants: Omotayo Deji, 23, Chidiebere Ifeanyi, 25, and Bolaji Usman, 28, were arraigned before Justice Bamidele Omotoso on January 21, 2020, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.

The charge reads that the defendants on “May 6, 2019, at Aba Erinfun, Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti in Ado Ekiti Judicial Division did conspire to commit a felony, to wit; armed robbery and robbed Ademiloye Stephen, Olokuntoye Temitope and Ajayi Kolade of their belongings, such as phones, laptop computer, sandals, phone chargers and power banks valued at N186,000, as at the time of the robbery. They were armed with cutlass and wooden plank,"

According to the charges, the alleged offences contradicted Sections 6 (b), 1 (2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

One of the victims in his statement to the police, said: “We were sleeping in our room at about 2:30 a.m., suddenly, I heard a loud sound on the door, immediately, we woke up, I saw the defendants armed with cutlass and wooden plank, immediately, they broke the electric bulb with the plank in their hand. They commanded us to lay face down and bring out all our money. We told them that we are students and we don’t have money, but they started beating us on our backs with sticks and cutlasses.

“Thereafter, they started collecting our phones, laptops, chargers, sandals, power banks and others I could not remember and ran away. We were later shouting for help but nobody came out.”

To prove his case, the police prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called one witness and tendered statements of the victims and defendants, as well as phones among others as exhibits.

The defendants testified through their counsels, without calling witnesses. 

In his judgement, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said, "I am of the strong opinion that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of armed robbery against the defendants.

"They are hereby found guilty as charged and convicted for the offence of armed robbery.

“The sentence of the court upon you, Omotayo Deji, Chidiebere Ifeanyi, and Bolaji Usman is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and may the Lord have mercy on your souls.”