It was an emotional moment at the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, as the Presiding Judge, Justice M.O. Folorunso, wept in Court while sentencing three armed robbers to death by hanging.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Justice M.O. Folorunso convicted and sentenced the three-man armed robbery gang to death by hanging for armed robbery and possession of firearms under the Criminal Law of the State.
The trio was brought before Justice Folorunso for the offence committed on 2nd March, 2024, at the Oko Erin area in Ilorin, the state capital, at about 6:00 a.m.
They were confirmed to have robbed their victim of his Infinix Note 11 phone, using a gun.
Justice Folorunso, while passing the sentence was in tears before ordering: “The three of you be hanged by the neck until you die”.
However, the judge discharged and acquitted two young women, including a pregnant mother who were arraigned on four-count charge of unlawful possession of firearms, aiding and abetting, kidnapping and criminal conspiracy.
The defendants, Aisha Haruna and Rabi Umar, were arrested by men of the Police anti-kidnapping squad on June 25, 2025, in Babanla community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state, in a vehicle.
Other suspects in the vehicle were said to have fled the scene, while the Police said they found an AK-47 rifle and 31 live ammunition with one of the women.
The prosecution, led by the Senior State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice, I. B.Olorundare, told the court that the women were intercepted by the Police and members of the local vigilante team at about 5:00pm in a vehicle carrying some young women for suspicious movement.
Delivering his judgement, Justice M.O. Folorunso said the prosecution failed to prove the allegations against the women.
According to the court, evidence from Police witnesses was contradictory.
Justice Folorunso, who said that the defendant admitted that one English rifle was found in her bag during the search by the Police, added that the evidence of the Police witness did not clearly state whether the weapon was an AK-47 or an AK-49.
He also held that the prosecution did not prove that there was evidence to commit an illegal act by the women.
The judge thereafter discharged and acquitted them.
He further directed their counsels to provide them with transportation fare to their respective places in Kaduna and Kanmbi community, Moro Local Government Area.