An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced four persons to death by hanging for armed robbery and other offences.
Those convicts are Ajayi Ojo Dada (22), Osalade Mathew (23), Ogundare Adebisi (23) and Adeniyi Busayo (23).
The defendants were arraigned on August 24, 2020, on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, attempted murder and cultism.
According to the charge, the defendants on January 1, 2019, at the Odo-Ado area of Ado-Ekiti, conspired to rob Ezeaku Mary, Ige Joshua and Abdulmalik Hassan; and also attempted to murder one Olajide Babatunde.
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The defendants who are also members of a prohibited society, Eieye confraternity, dispossessed their victims of phones, necklaces, wristwatches, cash, among others.
The prosecutor, Albert Adeyemi, called six witnesses, tendered the defendant’s statements to the police, one locally made pistol, one live ammunition, two axes, two cutlasses, 12 handsets, among others, as exhibits.
The defendants spoke through their counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, Ekiti State Coordinator of the Legal Aid Council (LAC), who called no witness.
Justice Bamidele Omotoso held that, “I resolve the sole issue for determination in this case partially in favour of the prosecutor and against the defendants; they are found guilty of the offences of conspiracy, armed robbery and attempted murder.
“The sentence of this court upon the defendants is that they be hanged by the neck until they be dead, may God have mercy on your souls.”
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