MICHAEL AKINOLA
Five men have been condemned to death by hanging for murder and armed robbery and also handed 21 years for conspiracy following their conviction by the State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the men, Ojo Tope, Danilola Christopher, Joshua Adegoke, Aderopo Temitope, and Oyedele Oluwatobi, were found guilty as charged and sentenced accordingly.
The presiding judge, Justice O.O. Olatawura, found them guilty of conspiracy for armed robbery, murder by using dangerous weapons to kill the victims during the operation.
The judge stated that the crime was committed on 18th August, 2021, at Agogo Street, Ilupeju Avenue in Ado-Ekiti when the convicts robbed Ajiboye Olajide, Lateef Temidayo Busari, and Akeem Isiaka. They stole money, laptops, phones, and other items.
During the robbery, they also killed the night guard, Joseph Blessing and escaped.
However, they were later arrested and charged for conspiracy, murder, and armed robbery.
The prosecution was led by Julius Ajibare of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Ekiti State, who brought four witnesses and 13 pieces of evidence before the Court.
The convicts defended themselves as they were unable to bring any witnesses, although they were represented by a lawyer, Adeyinka Opaleke.
The presiding judge, in the judgment stated that the prosecution had clearly proven the case beyond reasonable doubt.
They were sentenced to death by hanging for murder and armed robbery, and also given 21 years in prison for conspiracy. They were consequently taken to the correctional center, where they will serve their sentence and execution of the death penalty.