Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has sentenced two men, Folorunsho Oladeji and Dimeji Thomas, to 14 years’ imprisonment each for attempted armed robbery.

The judge found them guilty as charged by the Lagos State Government and sentenced the duo accordingly.

The convicts were arraigned for attempting to rob a car while armed with a gun and a knife at Jakande Estate, in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

Oladeji and Thomas were alleged to have attempted to rob one Yusuf of his Toyota Corolla, mobile phone, and cash. Around 2:45 a.m., the duo also reportedly attempted to rob one Hemas Udom at the same Jakande Estate before the police apprehended them.

Initially, they pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the prosecution proceeded with the trial.

During the trial, the victims testified how the defendants, armed with a gun and a knife, tried to snatch their vehicle. However, the arrival of the police forced the suspects to flee, abandoning the vehicle but escaping with the car key.

Subsequently, the defendants approached the prosecution for a plea bargain agreement. They were re-arraigned on an amended two-count charge of attempted robbery and pleaded guilty to the amended charge.

Justice Abike-Fadipe asked them if they had been coerced, induced, or promised anything in exchange for changing their plea. They confirmed to the court that they did so voluntarily and without intimidation.

The court convicted and sentenced both men to 14 years in prison, ordering that the sentence be backdated to commence from May 2019, when they were first remanded in the correctional facility.