An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, has sentenced one Sola Jegede, 24, to death by hanging.
In his pronouncement, Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde said the defendant was found guilty as charged on count 1, 2 and 3 for armed robbery.
“He is accordingly convicted and sentenced to death by hanging for the offence of armed robbery and may the Lord have mercy on his soul,” Abodunde ruled.
According to the charge, the defendant was charged with armed robbery and rape, which was committed on 30th October, 2015 at Oda Ponna Street, Omuo-Ekiti, when the defendant armed with gun, knife, digger and club robbed Ilesanmi Ibukun, Ilesanmi Seun and Ilesanmi Tope of their phones and undisclosed sums of money contrary to sections 1(2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 358 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.
Justice Abodunde discharged and acquitted the defendant on count 4 and 5, saying, no reasonable court can convict him on the offence of rape, given the totality of the evidence of prosecution with respect of offence of rape.
“He is found not guilty, discharged and acquitted on the offence of rape.”
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Omobola Oyewole called 7 witnesses while exhibits tendered included Blackberry and Nokia phones, a digger, a knife among others but the defendant spoke in his own defence through his counsel Adedayo Adewumi and called no witness.
