AKURE, Nigeria – Gbenga Akintola, a local farmer, has been sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by an Ondo High Court in Akure, the state’s capital on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, for his involvement in a series of robberies.
Akintola, who initially pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge brought against him by the state’s security outfit, Amotekun, was accused of conspiracy to commit felony, specifically armed robbery.
The charge, filed by Amotekun on September 20, 2022, alleged that Akintola, in partnership with another individual still at large, had committed robberies in August and October 2021 around Oke-Olifi via Itanla Junction, Ondo town.
The victims of these robberies were Onuh Chidinma, Rufus Rhoda, and Ayodeji Oluwayemisi, from whom various items including mobile phones and money were taken.
Akintola was alleged to have been armed with a cutlass and other offensive weapons during the robberies.
Police prosecutor Alako Abdulahi testified that Amotekun Corps officers had delivered Akintola to the police station on October 19, 2021, with items recovered including four mobile phones, a motorcycle, a bag, and a small purse.
While Akintola admitted to the items being in his possession, he claimed that they had been handed over to him by a man named Sunday Igbo, who was now missing.
One of the victims, Rufus Rhoda, testified that she and Chidinma were on their way to the Mount Olive Prayer Center when a masked Akintola, armed with a cutlass, emerged from the bush.
He demanded they drop their bags, after which he took them and ran off.
In his judgement, Justice W.R. Olamide discharged the defendant of some counts, citing lack of evidence linking the cutlass found in Akintola’s house to the robbery.
Nevertheless, Akintola was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for conspiracy and 21 years for the act of robbery, with the sentences to run concurrently.
