2 Civil Defence Officers Sentenced To Death By Hanging For Armed Robbery

P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the judgment of Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Ikeja High Court, who found them guilty and sentenced them accordingly on two-count of conspiracy and armed robbery under the Criminal Laws of the State.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Ogala, while delivering his judgement, said that the prosecutor was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the convicts committed the crime.

The convicts, Amarachukwu and Adebayo, were said to have embarked on an illegal midnight operation on January 20, 2018, into the early hours of the next day for armed robbery.

They were said to have at about 2am, armed with guns and other weapons hijacked an Iveco Container Truck with Registration No. LSR 746 XD  containing 1,700 cartons of Chelsea and Action Bitter drinks valued at N2.7 million, waybill, mobile phones and cash.

The duo later abandoned the truck alongside other stolen items along the Yaya Abatan Junction whilst recovery was made later by the Police.

They were later arrested and charged before the Court for the alleged offence, which they pleaded not guilty to and hence the trial.

In his judgement, the judge said, “I convict the defendants based on the eyewitness account and other circumstantial evidence which were highlighted in the case by the prosecution”.

“It was inconsequential that the vehicle and other belongings stolen were abandoned and recovered later, as the crime was complete at the point of the hijack.”

“The defendants are hereby found guilty as charged and sentenced to death by hanging,” he delivered.

Reacting to the conviction, Babajide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecution, said the decision to prosecute the defendants has been justified by the judgement of the Court.

Martins said, “Members of the public should see law enforcement officers as succour in public and not as threat to their public safety”.