An Ado-Ekiti high court has sentenced a 32-year-old man, Adeosun Segun, to 21 years imprisonment for robbery.
He was arraigned on a one-count charge of armed robbery in 2021 before Justice Bamidele Omotoso.
The charge sheet read that he robbed one Abdullai Ashimu of the sum of N10,000.
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In his testimony before the court, the victim said, “I am an Okada rider; around 10:30am on that day I conveyed the convict from Ijigbo to Ajebamidele area of Ado-Ekiti, with payment agreement of N200. When we got to a bush path, he stopped me and asked for a change of N800, because he wanted to give me N1,000. When I gave him the change, instead of giving me N1,000, he brought out a knife and threatened to kill me if I did not cooperate. He collected my N10,000. When he wanted to collect my motorcycle, I started shouting for help which attracted passersby. He released the motorcycle and ran away, but was chased and arrested around Omisanjana area of Ado-Ekiti.’’
His defendant’s counsel, Olayinka Opaleke, pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment, adding that the defendant was a first time offender who also had dependents.
In his judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said there was no evidence of previous criminal record of the defendant before the court, noting that he did not benefit from the proceeds of the crime as the money stolen by him was removed from him by the crowd that arrested him and that since his arrest October 4, 2021, he had been in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
The judge said taking all the above into consideration, the court shall consider an option of fine for the defendant.
He therefore ruled that, “Consequently, the defendant is hereby sentenced to imprisonment for 21 years with an option of N25, 000 fine.”
