An Ekiti State High Court on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, sentenced a man, Kingsley Okorowande, to death by hanging after being found guilty of armed robbery.
Lekan Ogunmoye, a judge, who handed the death sentence, said the prosecution has proved the case against the convict beyond reasonable doubt, therefore, held that the offence committed by the convict was contrary to Section 1(2)(a) of Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2014.
According to the charge sheet, the incident occurred on November 6, 2013, at Ori Apata Natha area of Basiri, Ado-Ekiti.
Okorowande robbed one Mrs. Medinat Babatunde of her laptops, handsets, jewelry, wristwatches and the sum of N210,000.00 while armed with offensive weapons such as guns and cutlasses. The convict was first arraigned on February 21, 2017, when the charge was read to him to which he pleaded not guilty.
Six suspects were initially arraigned for the offence but four of them, Eze Stephen, Toyin Faturoti, Ojo Gboyega and Alomaja Sunkanmi escaped during the Ado-Ekiti prison jailbreak. The fifth accused person, Sulaimon Sunday, who was on bail, jumped bail.
The charges were later split to give room for the speedy trial of the convict. Prosecution counsel, Mr. Ayodeji Jayeoba, called four witnesses including two police officers and the complainant.
Lekan Olatawura, the Defense counsel, did not call any witness in defense of the convict. Exhibits tendered include a statement of the accused, a hammer, a saw blade, a live cartridge, cut-to-size pistol, among others.
Justice Ogunmoye ruled: “From the evidence before me, the prosecutor definitely had an upper hand in proclamation of his gospel before me that he had succeeded in convincing me.
“The prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the defendant, in all, the sole issue for determination is resolved in favour of the prosecution.
The defendant is guilty as charged for armed robbery. “The mandatory sentence in a case of the defendant convicted for armed robbery is a death penalty.”
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