Lagos court sentences man to 35 years imprisonment for armed robbery

Justice Oyindamola Ogala of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, yesterday convicted and sentenced a man, Adamu Francis to 35 years imprisonment for armed robbery.

The judge convicted Francis after he was found guilty on a three-count charge brought against him by the Lagos State Government.

The state had arraigned him on charges bordering on armed robbery, conspiracy and assault.
He was alleged to have robbed one Illiasu Ajoke Abiodun of her necklace, wristwatch, UBA and GTB Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, and a cash of N50,000.

The judge held that the prosecution has been able to discharge the burden of proof placed on it beyond every reasonable doubt.

According to the judge, offensive weapons were used by the convict to carry out the robbery, adding that there is no principle of law establishing that the prosecution should tender weapons used to execute an attack.

The judge said: “The defendant was arrested in the same vehicle in which the victim was robbed of her belongings. The circumstantial evidence against the defendant is strong, and he is accordingly found guilty of the offence as charged.”

The judge, therefore, sentenced him to 35 years imprisonment.
The prosecution had in the charge marked ID/13695c/2020 and dated December 16, 2020, alleged that the convict committed armed robbery, contrary to Section 297 (2)(a) 299 and 174(a) of the Criminal Law Ch C17, Volume 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015.

It alleged that Francis and others now at large on or about May 12, 2020, at about 6:15a,m, at Ogudu Bus Stop, Ojota, Lagos State, conspired among themselves to commit robbery.

He was also alleged to have assaulted Abiodun by heating her and stripping her naked.