An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced two individuals, Benjamin Joseph (32) and Stephen Orban (25), to death by hanging for armed robbery.
The two men were arraigned before Justice Blessing Ajileye on December 30, 2022, on a four-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.
The court found that on August 16, 2022, along Iluomoba Road, Aisegba Ekiti, they conspired to commit armed robbery.
They were armed with locally made guns, knives, and cutlasses and robbed Daramola Christiana and Ajayi Alaba of belongings such as phones, a power bank, creams, drugs, ATM cards, and a cash sum of N105,000.
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Prosecutor Ibitonke Odetola stated that the offences are contrary to Sections 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The prosecutor called six witnesses and presented evidence, including charms, phones, camouflage underwear, a hammer, face covers, fake dollars, and cutlasses.
The defendants, represented by their lawyer Adeyinka Opaleke, spoke in their defence but called no witnesses.
In his judgment, Justice Blessing Ajileye stated, “I find that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that there was an armed robbery on August 16, 2022.
“Consequently, the sentence of this court is that they be hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God have mercy on your souls.”