Armed Robbers Terrorizing Bike Rider in Ado-Ekiti Sentenced to Death
Four men have been sentenced to death for armed robbery by an Ekiti State High Court’s Ado Ekiti Division for terrorizing bike riders.
Those convicted, Segun Friday, Tijani Seun, Ogunyemi Olarewaju, and Adebayo Tope were charged with conspiracy and armed robbery.
According to the charge, “The defendants arose in Irare Village, Erinmope in Moba Local Government Area, Ekiti State, on December 24, 2018. Conspired to commit a felony, In addition to committing a felony, they robbed one Adeleke Abiodun of his Bajaj motorcycle on the same day. They were armed with offensive weapons, including a piece of wood, at the time of the robbery.
“The offences contravene Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act. Cap. RII, Vol. 14 and Section 1(2) (a) Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act. Cap. RII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” it stated.
According to the victim, who described himself as a motorcyclist, the four perpetrators conspired together to strangle him and dispose of him on his bike.
He said, “Later, I saw a man and his wife coming from their farm on a motorcycle, I told them what happened, they raised the alarm and the villagers came out. They combed the surroundings which led to the arrest of one of them.
“Thereafter, he was handed over to the police. He later led the police to the Atikankan area of Ado Ekiti where other members of the gang were arrested, but the motorcycle was nowhere to be found up till today”, he concluded.
The prosecutor, Julius Ajibare, called three witnesses and tendered the defendants’ statements as exhibits.
The defendants, who spoke through their counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, called no witnesses.
In the judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye said, “This is evidence of a direct plot between the conspirators. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants indeed took steps to achieve the agreed task of robbery.”
“From the evidence placed before the court by the complainant, he has established beyond reasonable doubt the meeting of mind of the defendants to dispossess the owner of a motorcycle.
The four defendants were found guilty in count one (conspiracy) and count two (armed robbery) as charged. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants are hereby sentenced to death.
