An Ekiti State High Court, located in Ado Ekiti Division, has given three individuals, Oyebanji Sola, Jimoh Azeez, and Ogunlade Babatunde, the punishment of death by hanging for committing armed robbery.
The court on Monday also handed a 10-year prison term to Babalola Bidemi, aged 28, for knowingly receiving stolen goods.
However, it cleared 26-year-old Akinwale Oluwaseun of all charges, deeming him innocent.
The five defendants were accused on January 30, 2020, on five counts related to plotting, armed robbery, receiving stolen items, and involvement in a secret group.
As per the accusation, “the defendants, Babalola Bidemi (28), Akinwale Oluwaseun (26), Oyebanji Sola (31), Jimoh Azeez (31) and Ogunlade Babatunde (28) on 3/10/2018 at Oke Oniyo Street, Ado Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire to commit felony, to wit; armed robbery.
“The defendants on same date did rob Tijani Omowumi and Ogunrinde Olumide of their phones, plasma television, wristwatch, necklace, shirts, trousers, shuttle bag, and cash sum of N5,000 among others.
“At the time of the robbery, they were armed with a big stick, club, stone, cutlasses and gun, the offences are contrary to 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 and Section 4(1) of the Secret Cults (Abolition and Prohibition) ( First Amendment) Law, No. 6 of 2017”.
In her statement to the police, one of the victims said two men holding sticks and cutlasses attacked her in her room, slapped and beat her with the stick, and took away her plasma television, phones, bag, N5,000 cash and others.
The victim stated that the two dragged her out with the intention of raping her but were discouraged by another member of the gang following which she went to the police station the following day to make a formal report.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Dolapo Oyewole, called five witnesses and presented the defendants’ statements, phones, wraps of Indian hemp, and motorcycles with ignition, as evidence.
The defendants made statements in their own defense through their respective attorneys and called two witnesses.
Adeyinka Opaleke, who served as Akinwale Oluwaseun's legal counsel, demonstrated his innocence in the alleged crime.
In his ruling, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye stated, “Overall, the main issue to be decided is partly in favor of the prosecution, accordingly I issue the following orders; the first defendant (Babalola Bidemi), despite being a first-time offender, was the one who instigated the armed robbery, knowing that the item he received was a result of armed robbery, so his sentence should serve as a deterrent. He is therefore sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.
“The second defendant, Akinwale Oluwaseun, is cleared of all charges, while the 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants Oyebanji Sola, Jimoh Azeez and Ogunlade Babatunde are found guilty as charged, they are hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” the judge ordered.
