An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, January 31, sentenced four persons to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.
The convict, Ojo Tope (37), Aderopo Temitope (37), Oyedele Oluwatobi (27), Damilola Christopher (30), and Ekundayo Ajiboye (29) were arraigned before Justice Lekan Olatawura on April 16, 2024, on five counts bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted the fifth defendant, Ekundayo Ajiboye, saying no evidence linked him with the offences committed.
The charge read, “The convicts on August 3, 2021, at Ilutitun Street, along Dammy Guest House, Ikere Ekiti did conspire to rob Taye Adegboye, Idowu Damilola, Idowu Tolulope and Ganiyu Abimbola of their belongings such as laptops, phones, power bank and charger, jewelry, sound system, cash sum of N136,000 among others. As at the time of the robbery, they were armed with guns.”
One of the victims, Idowu Oluwadamilola, in his statement to the police, said he was sleeping in his room around midnight when some people forced their way into his room.
“Before they gained access, I climbed and hid in the ceiling. When they entered, they told my brother that we were two in the room, and they threatened to shoot him if he refused to produce me. Immediately I came down from the ceiling, I was beaten seriously for daring them,” he said.
“Thereafter, they took our laptop computers, phones, power bank and chargers, all the money in the house, MP3 radio and other things. I, alongside other victims, went to report at the Ilupeju Police Station the following day.”
According to him, he was at home in February 2022 when the defendants led policemen to his house after having confessed to having robbed him in the previous year.
The prosecutor, Oluwaseun Olasanmi, called four witnesses and tendered the defendants’ statements as exhibits.
The defendants spoke through their counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, and others, they called no witnesses.
In his judgment, Justice Lekan Olatawura said, “In this instant case, the 1st to 4th defendants, all confessed individually to have conspired to commit armed robbery at the property occupied by the victims
“In all, I find that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the 1st to 4th defendants committed the offences, and in consequence thereof, the sentence of this court is that you, Ojo Tope, Aderopo Temitope, Oyedele Oluwatobi and Damilola Christopher, be hanged by the neck until you be d3ad. May God have mercy on your souls.
“I found no iota of evidence linking the 5th defendant to the commission of any of the offences as charged. Accordingly, Ekundayo Ajiboye is hereby discharged and acquitted,” the judge pronounced.
