By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

A 51-year old man, Rotimi Ojo Owoeye, has been sentenced to death by hanging by an Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, for his involvement in a brutal armed robbery attack and attempted murder.

The presiding judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, handed down the sentence after finding Ojo guilty on all four counts relating to conspiracy, attempted murder and armed robbery.

The convict was dragged before the court on August, 25, 2023, following a string of violent robberies in the Ado Ekiti metropolis.

Prosecutors said Ojo and his accomplices—who are still at large—had, on May 21, 2023, stormed Oluwole Orungbe Street in Ado Ekiti, where they reportedly attempted to murder two persons — Funmilayo Adeyemi and Adesola Omolola, during a robbery operation.

Court documents revealed that the gang robbed one of the victims of her handbag containing an undisclosed amount of cash and a handset valued at N85,000.

Just over a week earlier, on May, 12, 2023, the defendant and his gang were said to have struck at Ilokun, Ado Ekiti, where they robbed Adesola Omolola of her laptop, phones, flash drives and N10,000 in cash. They were reportedly armed with guns, a cutlass and an axe during the attack.

The offences, according to the prosecution, violated Sections 314, 312(2)(b), 241 and 312(a) of the Ekiti State Criminal Laws, 2021.

In her harrowing testimony before the court, Adesola Omolola recounted how the robbers broke into her home around 8:00 p.m., while she was preparing to sleep.

She narrated: “I was about to lock the door when I noticed a push from outside. I opened it and saw the defendant and others wielding guns, cutlasses and an axe. They ordered me to lie face down and asked my eldest son to take them inside. They stole cash and valuables worth N710,000. I reported the matter at Oke Ila Police Station immediately after the incident.”

Omolola further disclosed that about a week after the robbery, she learnt that some suspects had been arrested in the area.

“When I visited the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) office of the Nigeria Police Force, I saw and identified the defendant among the suspects,” she said.

The prosecuting counsel, O.F. Ajumobi, presented four witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including a single-barrel gun, live cartridges, the defendant’s confessional statement and photographs of the victims.

In his defence, the convict, represented by counsel Lawrence Fasanmi, chose not to call any witness.

The trial judge, Justice Ogunmoye, in his verdict, stated that the prosecution had convincingly proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, noting that the evidence placed the defendant at the scene of the crime and established a clear conspiracy among the attackers.

“The prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the offences as charged,” he held.

“Consequently, the defendant is hereby sentenced to death by hanging. May God have mercy upon his soul,” the judge declared.