A High Court in Ekiti State has sentenced five individuals to death by hanging after finding them guilty of armed robbery and murder. Additionally, each of the convicts received a 21-year prison sentence for conspiracy.
The convicted individuals—Ojo Tope, Damilola Christopher, Joshua Adegoke, Aderopo Temitope, and Oyedele Oluwatobi—were tried and found guilty of engaging in conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder.
During the trial, Director of Public Prosecutions Julius Ajibare, who represented the state, informed the court that the crimes took place on August 18, 2021, at Agogo Street, Ilupeju Avenue in the Odo Ado area of Ado Ekiti.
According to Ajibare, the defendants robbed three victims—Ajiboye Olajide, Lateef Temidayo Busari, and Akeem Isiaka—of cash, laptops, mobile phones, and other personal belongings. During the course of the robbery, the suspects also murdered the neighborhood’s night guard, identified as Joseph Blessing.
Following their arrest, the defendants were charged under multiple legal provisions, including Section 516A and Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State (2012), as well as Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004).
To support the case, the prosecution presented four witnesses and submitted 13 exhibits as evidence. The defense counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, represented the accused, each of whom testified in their own defense without calling additional witnesses.
Presiding over the case, Justice Olalekan Olatawura concluded that the prosecution had successfully proven all charges beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, he found the five men guilty and issued a death sentence by hanging for the armed robbery and murder convictions, along with a 21-year sentence for the conspiracy charge.
