18th March, 2024
By Adenike Ayodele
An Ikeja High Court on Monday sentenced a man, Adam Francis, to 38 years imprisonment for robbing a motorist of her necklace, wristwatch, United Bank of Africa (UBA) cards and the sum of N50,000.
Justice Oyindamola Ogala in her judgment held that the prosecution had successfully proved the three count charge of armed robbery, conspiracy and assault against Francis.
Ogala said the standard of proof was beyond every reasonable doubt and that the prosecution had been able to discharge the burden of proof placed on it.
She affirmed that the offensive weapons were used by Francis to carry out the robbery attack.
According to her, there is no principle of law establishing that the prosecution should tender weapons used to execute the robbery attack.
“The defendant was arrested in the same vehicle in which the victim was robbed of her belongings.
“The circumstantial evidence against the defendant is strong, and he is accordingly found guilty of the offences as charged.
“On count one charge of conspiracy to commit robbery, the defendant is hereby sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
“On count two of armed robbery, the defendant is sentenced to 21 years while he is sentenced to three years on assault,” she said.
The judge, however, ordered that the jail term should run concurrently.
The prosecution submitted that the convict with another (now at large) sometimes on May 12, 2020, at about 6:15 a.m. in Ogudu bus stop, Ojota, Lagos, armed with a gun and iron rod robbed one Ms Illiasu Abiodun of her necklace, wristwatch, UBA and GTB ATM cards.
The prosecution added that the convict robbed the complainant of the sum of N50,000, hit and stripped her naked.
According to the prosecutor, the offences violate Section 174(a), 297 and 299 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015. (NAN)