An Ado Ekiti Division of the Ekiti State High Court delivered a death sentence by hanging on three individuals on Tuesday, January 27, for their involvement in armed robbery.
The convicted individuals are Lasisi Afeez, aged 33, Ilesanmi Seun, 32, and Ajewole Peter, 53, who stood trial under Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on charges including conspiracy, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms.
The charges indicated that their actions contravened sections 314, 312(2)(b), and 344 of the Ekiti State Criminal Law of 2021.
As outlined in the charge, “On March 29, 2022, in Ado Ekiti, armed with weapons such as guns and cutlasses, they robbed Ojo Dada Emmanuel of his Toyota Corolla, a wedding ring, multiple ATM cards, an Infinix phone, two laptop computers, and 70,000 Naira in cash.”
Additionally, the indictment stated, “On the same day, place, and time, they also robbed Balogun Ahmed, taking his Infinix phone, Itel phone, and 2,200 Naira. During the robbery, the defendants were in possession of a long double- barreled gun and live cartridges without legal authorization.”
In court, one of the victims, Emmanuel, recounted: “While I was at the hospital late at night preparing for an operation, the defendants appeared without disguising their faces. They ordered us to lie down, with one wielding a pistol and the other a long double-barreled gun. They physically assaulted me, a patient, and his relative at gunpoint.”
He continued, “They seized my phone, wedding ring, and 70,000 Naira in cash from the hospital cashier before making off with my Toyota Corolla worth 3 million Naira, which also contained my bank ATM and two laptops.”
“I reported the matter to the police later. I found out the car was sold by the defendants but was retrieved by law enforcement. I confirmed it based on the chassis number since they had removed the license plate number DEA 722 AA,” he added.
The prosecutor, Julius Ajibare, presented three witnesses and produced various items—including vehicle documents, a firearm, mobile phones, and live cartridges—as evidence. However, the defendants did not call any witnesses in their defense.
In his deliverance of judgment, Justice Ogunmoye held the defendants guilty on three counts related to conspiracy and armed robbery.
Justice Ogunmoye stated, “I concur with the prosecutor that it is evident from the defendants' confessions and the presented evidence that they intended to commit robbery at Maxwell Hospital, located at Ifesowapo Street, Nova Road, Ado Ekiti.”
He further declared, “The prosecution has mostly succeeded in substantiating its case concerning counts 1, 2, and 3 (Conspiracy and Armed Robbery), leading to acquittal on count four.
“Therefore, the court’s ruling is that the defendants shall be hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God Almighty have mercy on your souls,” Justice Ogunmoye concluded.
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