Chibuike Alijue fell unconscious for 30 minutes after trial Judge Ishaq Bello sentenced him to life imprisonment along with John Alfred and David Odey.
It took frantic efforts by lawyers and court officials to revive him. Alijue began to scream after he regained consciousness throwing the various courtrooms into chaos.
He said he had hoped to regain his freedom because he was planning to marry in December. He was only calmed after defence counsel Anthony Agbonlahor and other lawyers explained to him that he will not be killed.
The convicts were alleged to have on April 26, 2006 and May 19, 2006 in Wuse Zone 6 and Wuse Zone 7, Abuja robbed Eze Duru, a traditional ruler and one Chief Mike Mbanefo of the sum of N222, 000 and $700 respectively.
Those arraigned with them by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) on a 10 counts charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and receiving stolen properties in 2007 include: Omika Abdullahi, Friday Aneh, Obinna Nwankwo, Uche Sunday and Owolabi Onipede.
In another dramatic twist to the case, Justice Bello cancelled the acquittal of Nwankwo because of the evidence against him saying Omika should be freed instead. He said his earlier pronouncement was made in error. The suspect was not in court when his acquittal was reversed. But the judge ordered the Police to re-arrest him. He also released the other suspects.
Meanwhile Agbonlahor said the defence will appeal the judgment, arguing that it was full of errors.
