During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Mr Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, said that the convicts on May 6, 2019, broke into a student's private hostel at Aba Erinfun, Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti and robbed the occupants of Valuables.
The convicts robbed occupants of the hostel including Stephen Ademiloye, Temitope Olokuntoye and Kolade Ajayi of their belongings. The charge listed the items stolen to include phones, laptop computers, sandals, phone chargers and power banks valued at N186,000 at the time of the robbery. The charge also indicated that the convicts were armed with cutlasses and wooden planks when the robbery was committed.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt the charge preferred against the defendants. "I am of the strong opinion that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of armed robbery against the defendants," Omotosho said. "They are hereby found guilty as charged and convicted for the offence of armed robbery. The sentence of the court upon you Omotayo Deji, Chidiebere Ifeanyin, and Bolaji Usman is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead and may the Lord have mercy on your souls."
The court's decision has been welcomed by the public, who have expressed their satisfaction with the ruling. Some people believe that the sentence will serve as a deterrent to others who may want to engage in similar criminal activities. Speaking to reporters after the verdict, Mr Adeyemo said that the judgment was a victory for justice. "This is a clear signal that crime does not pay, and justice will always prevail," he said. "We are happy with the outcome of the case, and we believe that it will send a strong message to others who may want to engage in similar activities."
The defence counsel, however, expressed disappointment with the judgment and said that they would appeal the ruling. "We are not satisfied with the judgment, and we believe that there are grounds for appeal," one of the defence counsels said. "We will be filing an appeal, and we are confident that we will get justice."
The Ekiti State Government has also commended the judiciary for its speedy dispensation of justice in the case. In a statement, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Olawale Fapohunda, said that the judgment was a clear demonstration of the government's commitment to the rule of law. "We commend the judiciary for its speedy dispensation of justice in this case," he said. "This judgment sends a clear message to those who may want to engage in criminal activities that the government will not hesitate to bring them to justice."
The case has highlighted the need for more efforts to be made to curb the rising cases of armed robbery and other criminal activities in the country. Many people have called on the government to provide more support to the police and other security agencies to enable them to effectively tackle crime. There have also been calls for more investment in education and job creation to provide opportunities for young people who may be tempted to engage in criminal activities.