Three deadly armed robbers sentenced to death in Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced three men to death by hanging after finding them guilty of conspiracy and armed robbery.

The convicts, Lasisi Afeez, also known as Yemi SARS, 33; Ilesanmi Seun, 32; and Ajewole Peter, 53, were tried before Lekan Ogunmoye on four counts bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.

The offences were held to be contrary to Sections 314, 312(2)(b) and 344 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

According to the prosecution, the defendants, on March 29, 2022, in Ado-Ekiti, while armed with guns and cutlasses, robbed Ojo Dada Emmanuel of his Toyota Corolla car, wedding ring, ATM cards, an Infinix mobile phone, two laptops and the sum of ₦70,000. On the same date and location, they were also accused of robbing Balogun Ahmed of two mobile phones and ₦2,200 in cash.

The prosecution further told the court that the defendants were found in unlawful possession of a long double-barrel gun and live cartridges.

Testifying before the court, Ojo narrated that the convicts stormed the hospital premises around 11:00 p.m. while he was preparing for a medical procedure.

He said they assaulted him and others present before making away with his personal belongings and vehicle.

He added that the stolen car was later recovered by the police after it had been sold, noting that he identified it through the chassis number as the registration number had been removed.

To establish its case, the prosecution counsel, Julius Ajibare, called three witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including car documents, firearms, mobile phones and live cartridges.

In their defence, the defendants denied the allegations but called no witnesses.

Delivering judgment, Justice Ogunmoye held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt on three counts relating to conspiracy and armed robbery.

The court, however, discharged and acquitted the defendants on the fourth count.

The judge subsequently sentenced the three men to death by hanging.