The High Court of Ekiti State, presided over by Justice Olalekan Olatawura yesterday, convicted five persons to death by hanging for the offences of Armed Robbery and Murder, and to 21 years imprisonment for the offence of Conspiracy.

Those convicted included Ojo Tope, Damilola Christopher, Joshua Adegoke, Aderopo Temitope, and Oyedele Oluwatobi.

According to the charge sheet, the offences were committed by the convicts on the 18th day of August, 2021, at Agogo Street, Ilupeju Avenue, Odo-Ado, Ado-Ekiti, where they robbed three people, including Ajiboye Olajide, Lateef Temidayo Busari, and Akeem Isiaka, of their money, Laptop Computers, Mobile phones, and other valuables.

In the process of the robbery, the convicts also killed the street night guard, identified as Joseph Blessing.

The convicts were arrested and charged to Court with the offences of Conspiracy, Murder, and Armed Robbery, contrary to Section 516A of the Criminal Code Law, Cap.C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, Section 319 of the same Law, and Section 1 (2)( a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap.R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The defendants were convicted and sentenced to death and imprisonment for 21 years, respectively, on all four counts.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibare, who prosecuted the case on behalf of Ekiti State, called four witnesses and tendered 13 Exhibits to prove his case before the trial Judge.

Adeyinka Opaleke represented the defendants, and each of them gave evidence without calling additional witnesses.

The judge, after thorough evaluation of the evidence of the prosecutor, delivered judgment and held that the prosecution proved the two counts of armed robbery, murder, and conspiracy against all five defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.

He consequently convicted all the defendants and sentenced them to death by hanging for armed robbery and murder, and to 21 years imprisonment for conspiracy.