By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti
An Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced one Alex Peter, to life imprisonment for offence of conspiracy and armed robbery.
The 27-year old convict was arraigned before Justice Adekunle Adeleye on December 29, 2022, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.
According to the charge, the defendant and other at large on 16/5/2022 at Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this hounourable court did conspire to commit armed robbery on one Augustine Steven by stlealing his Red Bajaj Motorcycle with Registration number AMK 569 UJ and cash sum of N15,000.
At the time of the robbery, he was armed with cutlass and axe, contrary to Section 314 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
In his testimony before the court, the victim said, “I am a commercial motorcyclist. I was riding around 8:45pm along NTA Road of Ado-Ekiti on that day, when the defendant stopped me to take him to Judges Quaters. On getting there, he alighted from the motorcycle. I was expecting him to pay me but instead, I suddenly saw somebody who emerged from the bush with cutlasss. I turned to the passenger, he already held an axe.
They collected the cash of N15,000 from me and took my motorcycle away. I saw the defendants’ face clearly because there was light along the road.
“I reported the matter at New Iyin Road Police station.
“On the third day, when I saw the defendant at a restaurant, I grabbed him while some passersby helped me to call the police. He initially denied robbing me of my motorcycle, but it was later found in his house when the police went to search his residence,” he concluded.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, O.S. Akinwumi, called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements, motorcycle particulars among others as exhibits while the defendant spoke in his own defence through his lawyer, Stanley Okonkwo, out he called no witness.
Delivering his judgement, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, said, “In consideration of the evidence of the prosecution and exhibit tendered, I found that the prosecution has established beyond reasonable doubt, that there was in fact, a robbery incident on 16/05/22 when the defendant and one other person, now at large robbed the victim of his Bajaj motorcycle.
“The prosecution also established that at the time of the robbery, the defendant and his accomplice now at large were armed with a knife and axe.
“It is in evidence that the defendant himself confessed that he was one of the armed robbers.
“I find the defendant guilty as charged. On the whole, the defendant is hereby sentenced to nine years imprisonment for conspiracy and life imprisonment for the offence of armed robbery.”