Court sentences two men to death for stealing phones, others in Ekiti

Court sentences two men to death for stealing phones, others in Ekiti

A High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State, has handed down death sentences to Benjamin Joseph, 32, and Stephen Orban, 25, for their involvement in armed robbery. Justice Blessing Ajileye delivered the verdict.

The case, initiated on December 30, 2022, charged the pair with conspiracy and armed robbery.

The court was convinced that on August 16, 2022, on Iluomoba Road in Aisegba Ekiti, the two men conspired to commit the crime.

Equipped with locally made guns, knives, and cutlasses, they robbed Daramola Christiana and Ajayi Alaba of several items, including phones, a power bank, creams, medications, ATM cards, and a cash amounting to N105,000.

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Prosecutor Ibitonke Odetola cited violations of Sections 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Six witnesses were called to testify, and the prosecution presented various pieces of evidence such as charms, phones, camouflage underwear, a hammer, face covers, fake dollars, and cutlasses.

Although the defendants, represented by lawyer Adeyinka Opaleke, testified in their defense, they did not call any additional witnesses.

Justice Ajileye concluded that the prosecution had proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The judge pronounced, “I find that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that there was an armed robbery on August 16, 2022. Consequently, the sentence of this court is that they be hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God have mercy on your souls.”

Court sentences two men to death for stealing phones, others in Ekiti