An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced three persons to death by hanging for armed robbery.

The convicts – Omotayo Deji (23), Chidiebere Ifeanyi (25) and Bolaji Usman (28) – were arraigned before Justice Bamidele Omotoso on January 21, 2020, on four counts of conspiracy and armed robbery.

They were said to have conspired and robbed their victims of their belongings, such as phones, laptop computers, sandals, phone chargers and power banks valued at N186,000.

According to the charge, the defendants, armed with cutlass and wooden plank, on May 6, 2019, at Aba Erinfun, Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti in Ado Ekiti Judicial Division, conspired to commit armed robbery and robbed three persons of their belongings valued at N186, 000.

“The offences are contrary to Sections 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” the charge stated.

In his statement to the police, one of the victims said, “We were sleeping in our room around 2.30am, suddenly, I saw the defendants armed with cutlass and a plank. They broke the electric bulb with the plank in their hand, they commanded us to lie face down and bring out all our money. We told them we were students and did not have money.

“They beat us with the stick and cutlass. Thereafter, they collected our phones, laptop, chargers, sandals, power banks and others I could not remember and ran away. We later shouted for help, but nobody came to our aid.”

The prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called one witness and tendered statements of the victims and defendants, phones among others as exhibits.

The defendants did not call witnesses.

In the judgment, Justice Omotoso, who said the prosecution proved the offence of armed robbery against the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt, said, “They (defendants) are hereby found guilty as charged and convicted for the offence of armed robbery.

“The sentence of the court upon you Omotayo Deji, Chidiebere Ifeanyi and Bolaji Usman is that you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead.”