From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced four persons to death by hanging, for conspiracy and armed robbery.

Justice Lekan Olatawura, in his judgment, convicted the four men, Tope Ojo, 37; Temitope Aderopo, 37; Oyedele Oluwatobi,27 and Damilola Christopher aged 30, for their involvement in a robbery that occurred on August 3, 2021, at Ilutitun Street, Ikere Ekiti.

They were arraigned on April 16, 2024, on five charges related to conspiracy and armed robbery.

The court heard that the convicts, while armed with guns, conspired to rob four victims, namely; Taye Adegboye, Idowu Damilola, Idowu Tolulope, and Ganiyu Abimbola.

The items they stole included; laptops, phones, power banks, a charger, jewelry, a sound system, and a sum of N136,000.

One of the victims, Idowu Oluwadamilola, testified that she was asleep in her room when the robbers broke in.

She said:”I managed to hide in the ceiling, but was forced down when the intruders threatened my brother with a gun.”

She recounted being severely beaten before the robbers took her belongings and that of others in the house.

The next day, she and other victims reported the incident to the Ilupeju Police Station.

In February 2022, she identified the defendants when they, along with police officers, appeared at her home and confessed to the crime.

The prosecution, led by Oluwaseun Olasanmi, presented four witnesses and submitted the defendants’ statements as evidence.

The defence, represented by Adeyinka Opaleke, called no witnesses.

In his judgment, Justice Olatawura noted that the first to fourth defendants had individually confessed to the robbery.

He held that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused were guilty of the offences.

Consequently, the judge sentenced Ojo, Aderopo, Oluwatobi and Christopher to death by hanging.

However, the judge found no evidence linking the fifth defendant, Ekundayo Ajiboye, to the crime. Hence, he discharged and acquitted him from the offences.

“May God have mercy on your souls,” Justice Olatawura concluded judgment.