Seven persons have been sentenced to death for conspiracy, armed robbery and cultism by an Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The defendants, Oyebanji Jimoh (32), Jimoh Azeez (32), Bolaji Ayodele Stephen (32), Ibrahim Alausa (33), Olorunfemi Busayo (32), Adeniyi Adewumi (30) and Idowu Sunday (32), were arraigned before Justice Adekunle Adeleye on 28/01/2020 on a five-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and membership of a secret cult.
The charge read that “on 15th October 2018, in Ado Ekiti, the defendants robbed one Ologunleko Juliet Olayinka of her Toyota car with Registration Number SMK 837 BF, a sum of N150,000, a laptop and phones. On the same day at Dallimore Junction, Ado Ekiti, they robbed one Ologunleko Oluwole of his phones, foodstuffs and some personal belongings.
“On 15th July 2018, at Ifelodun Avenue, Dallimore Street, Ado Ekiti, they robbed one Ojo Babatunde Kolawole of his phones, and on 15th October 2019, the defendants were found to be members of Eiye Confraternity, a prohibited secret society in Ekiti State. At the time of the incidents, they were armed with guns and axes.”
According to the charge, the offences are contrary to Section 6(b), 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R11, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Section 4(1) of the Secret Cult (Abolition and Prohibition) (First Amendment) Law No. 6 of 2017 of Ekiti State.
According to one of the victims, Mrs. Ologunleko, “Myself and four members of my family were coming from Ijebu Remo, Ogun State, to Ado Ekiti. One of my relatives who works at EKSUTH told me that robbery incidents were rampant in Ado. He said we should stay at a safe place where members of the OPC could assist in leading us home. We stayed at Dallimore Junction waiting for one of us who was urinating. Suddenly, we saw some boys. They asked us to lie face-down. They collected our laptops, phones, some money and ran away with my Toyota Corolla car. I went and reported the incident at the Area Command Police Station, Okesa, in Ado Ekiti.”
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Taiwo Ajibulu Ariyo, called four witnesses and tendered statements of the defendants, a short gun, three cartridges, two blue berets, a bond to produce, and photographs as exhibits. The defendants spoke in their own defence through their lawyer, S. K. Idowu. They called no witnesses.
In his judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye said: “From the circumstances of the case in hand, there is no doubt that the defendants acted in concert to commit armed robbery. They did not only rob their victims but confessed to how they shared their loot. There was a meeting of minds in committing the crime alleged against them, and they all took further steps in sharing their loot.
“In the circumstances, all the seven defendants are hereby sentenced to death,” the judge pronounced.
However, there was mild drama after the pronouncement when the 1st and 2nd defendants, Oyebanji Sola and Jimoh Azeez,who had been sentenced to death by hanging by another judge some time ago, led the other convicts and became unruly upon hearing the verdict, causing a commotion in the courtroom.
They shouted, struggled and resisted attempts by the correctional officers to take them away.
The scene quickly turned chaotic as the judge, lawyers, litigants and court staff scrambled out of the premises seeking safety. Court chairs and tables were knocked over and papers scattered as panic set in.
Correctional officers and other security personnel swiftly intervened, using restraint techniques to subdue the convicts.
After a tense struggle, the officers managed to overpower them, led them out of the courtroom and escorted them to the correctional facility.
