Court Sentences Two to Death by Hanging for Armed Robbery

An Abeokuta High Court on Thursday sentenced two men to death by hanging and another to 21 years in prison for armed robbery and attempted murder.

The convicts—Wale Adedeji, Akeem Sulaimon, and Wahabi Idowu—were found guilty on a four-count charge including conspiracy, armed robbery, and attempted murder.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora stated that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. He sentenced all three men to 14 years each for conspiracy and armed robbery.

In addition, Wahabi Idowu received 21 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder.

Justice Ogunfowora then sentenced Adedeji and Sulaimon to death by hanging, having found them guilty of the more serious charges.

Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Bolariwa Adebowale, told the court that the crimes occurred on October 29, 2018, around 12:30 a.m. at No. 40 Merroy Road, Safari Junction, Onikolobo area, Abeokuta.

According to Adebowale, the defendants—armed with knives and a cutlass—broke into the residence of Mr. Rasheed Fajinmi, attempted to kill him, and robbed him of his Ford Jeep (registration number MUS 769FF). They also made away with clothes, shoes, four mobile phones, two ATM cards, jewelry, a 32-inch plasma TV, and ₦64,000 in cash.

Additionally, the trio robbed Miss Boluwatife Fajinmi of her iPhone, Nokia 5x phone, and several wristwatches.

The prosecutor noted that the offences violated Section 21(b) and 1(1)(a)(5) of the Prohibition of Forcible Entry, Occupation of Landed Properties, Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Cultism and Other Anti-Violence and Related Offences Law of 2016, as well as Sections 324 and 320 of the Ogun State Criminal Code, 2006.