An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced three persons to death by hanging for robbing an 87-year-old woman.

The convicts, Shadrack Apos (30), Lucky Akpos (33), and Adunola Precious (24), were arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on August 19, 2024, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

The charge reads that the defendants, on 12/6/24 at Ifaki Ekiti, did conspire to rob one Victoria Folorunso of the cash sum of N147,000 and a wristwatch. At the time of the robbery, they were armed with a gun and planks, contrary to Sections 421 and 321 (2) (b) of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.

In her testimony before the court, the victim said, “I was sleeping around 1:00 am when I suddenly saw two people in my room. One held a gun to my forehead, while the second person held a plank; they asked me to bring all the money I had in the house. They took the ₦100,000 I had and another ₦47,000 I kept in my underwear; they took my wristwatch, which was presented to me by my children. They also took my phone, but they returned it to me.

“When they threatened to shoot me, I told them I had N3 million in my account. They instructed me to withdraw the money the following day and give it to Precious Adunola, my house help, to deliver it to them by 11:00 am. They did not wear masks, they did not break the door and were relating freely with my house help.

“They warned me not to tell anybody, or else they will kidnap and kill me. They called and threatened me thereafter for taking too long to receive the money. I later called and informed my children,” she concluded.

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called two witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements, the search warrant, and a wooden gun, among other exhibits. While the defendants spoke through their lawyers, Oluwatoyin Marcus and Mitchel Aribisala, they called one witness each.

In his judgement, Justice Ogunmoye said, “My earlier findings that the 3rd defendant, Adunola Precious, must have opened the door to enable the robbers to have seamless entry into the house she was sharing with the victim aptly demonstrated her own pivotal role in the plan to rob the victim.

“From the believable evidence before the court, therefore, it was clear that the prosecution had been able to establish that the defendants planned and agreed to rob the victim on 12th June, 2024. The charge of conspiracy and armed robbery had therefore been proved beyond a reasonable doubt against the defendants.

“They are also found guilty and convicted as charged in this court.

“The 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants are to be hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God have mercy on their souls, the Judge pronounced.”