An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced three men to death by hanging for their involvement in armed robbery.
The convicted, Lasisi Afeez (33), Ilesanmi Seun (32), and Ajewole Peter (53), faced a four-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye.
According to the prosecution, the men, on March 29, 2022, at Ado Ekiti, robbed Ojo Dada Emmanuel of his Toyota Corolla, wedding ring, ATM cards, two laptops, an Infinix phone, and ₦70,000 in cash. They also allegedly stole an Infinix phone, an Itel phone, and ₦2,200 from Balogun Ahmed. At the time, the suspects were found with a long double-barreled gun and live ammunition without a lawful permit.
Emmanuel, one of the victims, testified: “I was in the hospital around 11 pm, preparing for a surgery, when the suspects entered. They didn’t cover their faces and ordered us to lie down. One held a pistol, the other a long gun. They beat me, the patient, and a relative, then took my belongings, including my car, cash, and laptops.”
The prosecution presented three witnesses and evidence including car documents, phones, a gun, and live cartridges. The defendants did not call any witnesses in their defense.
In his ruling, Justice Ogunmoye found the men guilty on three counts of conspiracy and armed robbery, while acquitting them on the fourth count. The judge sentenced them to death by hanging, stating: “The defendants planned the robbery at Maxwell Hospital and the prosecution has successfully proven its case. May God Almighty have mercy on your souls.”
