Four to die by hanging for conspiracy, armed robbery, others

An Ado-Ekiti High Court, on Monday sentenced four persons, Ojo Ajayi 22, Matthew Osalade 23, Adebisi Ogundare 23 and Busayo Adeniyi 23, to death by hanging for armed robbery and other offences.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice Bamidele Omotoso on Aug  24, 2020, on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, attempted murder and cultism.

According to the charge, the convicts on Jan. 1, 2019 at Odo-Ado Area of Ado Ekiti, did conspire to commit, Armed Robbery on Mary Ezeaku, Joshua Ige and Hassan Abdulmalik.

They also attempted to murder one Olajide Babatunde, they were as well found to be members of a Prohibited Society called Eieye confraternity.

While armed with offensive weapons such as guns, axe and knives, they dispossessed the victims of their belongings, such as, phones, necklace, wristwatch, cash sum of N30,500 among others.

The matter was reported at the Police station before they were later arrested.

The defendants spoke in their own defence through their counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, Ekiti State Coordinator of the Legal Aid Council, they called no witness.

He said the punishment for armed robbery is death, for the offence of armed robbery, the sentence of this court upon the defendants is that they are hanged by the neck until they are dead.