Benjamin Joseph (32), and Stephen Orban (25) have been sentenced to death by hanging for robbing two persons of cash and valuable items.
Ekiti News reports that the State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division gave the sentence Thursday 23rd May, 2024.
The accused were brought before the court on December 30, 2022, facing four charges related to conspiracy and armed robbery.
According to the allegations, the defendants conspired to commit armed robbery on August 16, 2022, along Iluomoba Road, Aisegba Ekiti.
The charge stated, “As of the time of the robbery, they were armed with locally made guns, knives and cutlasses and did rob Daramola Christiana and Ajayi Alaba of their belongings such as phones, power bank, creams, drugs, ATM cards and N105,000 cash among others.
“The offences are contrary to Sections 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
During her testimony in court, one of the victims, a trader, recounted how four armed individuals assaulted them at a blocked-off section along the Omuo-Ado Ekiti Road in Aisegba Ekiti. She stated, “They took our phones, power bank, other belongings, and a cash amount of N105,000 before fleeing into the bushes. A passerby rescued me, while the driver returned to Omuo and filed a formal complaint with the police.”
Prosecutor Ibironke Odetola presented six witnesses and submitted various items, including charms, phones, camouflage underwear, a hammer, three hoods, counterfeit dollar notes, and machetes, as evidence.
In response, the defendants presented their defense through their lawyer, Adeyinka Opaleke, without calling any witnesses to testify.
Justice Blessing Ajileye, in his judgment said the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt that there was an armed robbery on August 16, 2022, found the two persons guilty.
He pronounced, “Consequently, the sentence of this court upon Benjamin Joseph and Stephen Orban is that they are hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God have mercy on your souls.”