By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced four men to a cumulative 50 years imprisonment for offences ranging from conspiracy, attempted murder, armed robbery, burglary, theft and unlawful possession of stolen items.

The convicts, Ogunwole Abiodun (a.k.a. Abbey Senator, 40), Olamide Olorunsola (a.k.a. Baggi, 49), Bello Tajudeen (a.k.a. Akube, 36), and Afeez Kadiri (a.k.a. Afisu, 28) were arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Familoni on June 21, 2022, on a six-count charge bordering on the aforementioned offences.

According to the charge sheet, the offences were committed on June 26, 2021, in Ifaki-Ekiti, where the defendants conspired and launched a brutal attack on one Adeniji Segun, a commercial driver with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

The prosecution told the court that the convicts, armed with dangerous weapons including axes, machetes, and broken bottles, ambushed Segun around 7:30 a.m. at a motor park in Ifaki and inflicted multiple injuries on him before dispossessing him of a handbag containing ₦11,000, ATM cards, his identity card and several electronic items.

The stolen items included an LG DVD player, a 22-inch LG television, a D-Jack home theatre system, and personal clothing items.

Segun, while testifying before the court, recounted the harrowing experience and explained how the gang left him for dead after the attack. He revealed that he was initially treated at the Police Cottage Hospital and later referred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) for advanced medical care.

He further disclosed that after being discharged and returning home, he discovered his house had been burgled by the same gang, who carted away the electronic appliances previously listed.

Following his report to the police, the defendants were arrested and arraigned in court.

The prosecution, led by Adeola Arogundade, called three witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including confessional statements of the convicts, photographs, medical reports, a search warrant, and a police release bond.

In their defence, the convicts were represented by Adeyinka Opaleke, Director and State Coordinator of the Legal Aid Council, who called two witnesses in support of their case.

Delivering judgment, Justice Adeniyi Familoni held that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt on the charges of armed assault, infliction of grievous bodily harm, and theft.

While acknowledging that the convicts showed remorse during the trial, the court adopted a mitigated sentencing approach.

Each of the four convicts was sentenced to five years imprisonment on count two (armed robbery) and another five years on count three (attempted murder).

In addition, Ogunwole Abiodun and Bello Tajudeen received an extra five years each on count five (receiving stolen property), bringing the total sentences to 50 years across the four convicts.

Justice Familoni ordered that all sentences be served accordingly.