FromVictor Akinkuolie
Ado-Ekiti

Justice Abiodun Adesodun of Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one Afolabi Taiwo, 43, to death by hanging.
In his pronouncement, Justice Adesodun held “ the prosecution has led credible, cogent and compelling evidence to establish all the three essential elements of the offence of armed robbery against the defendant as charged.
“He is hereby sentenced to death by hanging. May the Lord have mercy on your soul”
According to the charge, Afolabi Taiwo had on June 17, 2017 at Oke Osun, Ikere Ekiti, robbed Ayeni Oluwaseun Pius of his Lexus Jeep with Number plate Lagos KTU 479 DM and also robbed Aturamu Adesina of the sum of N43,000.00, Infinix Note 3 phone among others, at the time of the robbery, he was armed with gun.
In their testimonies before the court, the victims said they were coming from an outing on the fateful day, when the defendant who was their neighbour alongside other three unknown gunmen came out of their hidings and attacked them when they were alighting from the Jeep, them with cutlass, collect the Jeep key and other valuables, tied their hands and mouth and escaped.
They said they were alighting from the jeep men the convict and his accomplices struck them.
The victims added that they recognized the voice of the defendant.
The matter was reported at the police station while the Jeep was later tracked in Ore town, Odigbo local government area of Ondo State.
To proof his case, the prosecutor, Oluwatoyin Marcus called three witnesses and tendered statements of the victims and defendant, bond to release vehicle at the police station and other as exhibits.
The offence according to him contravened Section 1(2) a, of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The defendant spoke in his own defense through his counsel and also called three witnesses.