An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, sentenced three persons to death by hanging for armed robbery.
The convicts, Alexander Solomon, 29, Desmond Peter, 29, and Eric Tile, 30, were found guilty of conspiracy, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms.
The court, however, acquitted a fourth defendant, Promise Shie (27), after ruling that there was insufficient evidence to establish his involvement in the crimes.
The defendants were arraigned on four counts of charges bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms, contrary to Sections 6(b), 1(2) and 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions), Act., Cap. Rll, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The charges read, “That Alexander Solomon, Desmond Peter, Eric Tile and Promise Shie on 7th July 2022 along Ilumoba-Aisegba Ekiti Road, Aisegba Ekiti did conspire to commit armed robbery and unlawfully possessed firearms, to wit Beretta pistol.
“The defendants, while armed with guns, robbed Okey Jude and Jayeoba Ayobami of their belongings such as laptops, phones and N540,000 cash among others.”
In his statement to the police, Jude said they were drivers and representatives of a marketing company.
“We left Ado Ekiti for the Akoko area of Ondo State at about 3 pm after the day’s sales. We were stopped between Ilumoba and Aisegba Ekiti by the defendants,” Jude said.
“Initially, we thought they were vigilante members enforcing COVID-19 rules, but at gunpoint, they asked us to lay face down, they searched the vehicle and carted away all our phones, laptops, N540,000 cash and other things I could not remember.
“We narrated our ordeal to O’dua Peoples Congress members that we met at a roadblock, while we were with them, the robbers drove past, and the OPC members gave them a chase while we went to the nearest police station to make a formal complaint.”
The prosecutor, Gbemiga Adaramola, called four witnesses and tendered two guns, phones, laptops, cutlasses, axes, and facemasks among others as exhibits.
The defendants, who spoke in their defence through their respective lawyers, called no witnesses.
In the judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said, “I hold that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms against the first, second and third defendants.
“Consequently, for the offence of armed robbery, they are all sentenced to death by hanging, may the Lord have mercy on your souls.
Justice Omotoso said the prosecution failed to establish any of the offences against the fourth defendant (Promise Shie).
“He is accordingly discharged and acquitted,” she pronounced.