An Akure High Court in Ondo State has handed down a death sentence by hanging to Evangelist Adewale Adelu and five others for their involvement in robbing two banks 13 years ago, making away with N34 million. Justice Yemi Fasanmi delivered the verdict, convicting Ikechukwu Maduagwu, Adewale Adelu, Fayemi Olubusuyi, Ropo Adeleye, Dele Otopka, and Bayo Omotosho for the robberies in Akure and Idanre in 2011.The prosecution successfully established the armed robbery charges against the convicts beyond reasonable doubt. They were arraigned on July 14, 2022, facing charges of conspiracy, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms, leading to their remand in Olokuta Correctional Centre.During the trial, evidence revealed how the armed robbers forcefully entered the banking halls, heavily armed, and looted the banks, resulting in the death of a policeman. The defendants, in their confessions, admitted their roles and detailed how they collaborated with robbers from other regions, obtaining ammunition from outside the state capital and dividing the proceeds among themselves.While acknowledging the absence of direct eyewitnesses, Justice Fasanmi emphasized the coherence between the defendants’ confessions and the prosecution’s evidence. Evangelist Adelu’s central role in coordinating the robberies via phone calls was highlighted, leading to the conviction of all six defendants on multiple counts of conspiracy and armed robbery.Consequently, Justice Fasanmi sentenced the defendants to death by hanging for their crimes.
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