Owoeye Ojo, 51, was found guilty of armed robbery and given a death by hanging sentence on Thursday by the Ado Ekiti Division of the Ekiti State High Court.
On August 25, 2023, Ojo was arraigned in court on a four-count charge that included attempted murder, conspiracy, and armed robbery.
The charge read, “The defendant and others at large, on May 21, 2023, at Oluwole Orungbe Street in Ado Ekiti, conspired to commit armed robbery and attempted to murder Adeyemi Funmilayo and Adesola Omolola.
“The defendant and others at large robbed the victim of her handbag containing an unconfirmed sum of money and a handset valued at ₦85,000.
“Also, on May 12, 2023, at Ilokun in Ado Ekiti, the defendant and others at large, robbed Adesola Omolola of her laptop, phones, flash drives, and the cash sum of ₦10,000, among other items. At the time of the robbery, they were armed with guns, cutlasses, and an axe.
“The offences are contrary to Sections 314, 312(2)(b), 241, and 312(a) of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.”
In her testimony before the court, one of the victims, Adesola Omolola, said, “I was about to go to bed at about 8 p.m. that day. One of my sons was outside, and as I tried to lock the door from inside, I felt a push from the other side. When I opened the door to check, I saw the defendant and others holding guns, cutlasses, and an axe.
“I was ordered to lie face down, and they told my eldest son to lead them into the room, where they carted away my valuables and cash worth ₦710,000.
“After they left, I reported the matter at Oke Ila Police Station. A week later, I heard some armed robbers had been arrested in the neighbourhood. When I visited the office of the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigeria Police Force, I saw and identified the defendant as one of the robbers who attacked my house.”
The prosecutor, O. F. Ajumobi, called four witnesses and tendered as exhibits a single-barrel gun, live cartridges, the defendant’s statement, photographs of the victims, among others.
The defendant, represented by his counsel, Lawrence Fasanmi, did not call any witnesses.
In the judgment, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye stated, “With the credible evidence before the court, the prosecution has established that there was a robbery at the premises of the victims, the defendant was one of those who took part in the armed robbery, and there was a conspiracy between him and others.
“The prosecution has, therefore, proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the offences as charged.
“Consequently, the defendant is hereby sentenced to death by hanging. May God have mercy upon his soul,” the judge pronounced.
