The Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Thursday, June 13, 2024, sentenced four men to death by hanging for murder and armed robbery.

The convicts – Sola Ogunleye, Ebenezer Adebayo, Lasisi Afeez, and Ojo Oba – were arraigned on charges of murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, and conspiracy.

The offence of armed robbery is contrary to Section 6(b), of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R11, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.

The offences of murder and attempted murder are contrary to Sections 319 (1) and 320 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap.C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

Delivering judgement, Justice L.O. Ogundana, declared that the prosecution proved all the offences against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge convicted all the defendants and sentenced them to death by hanging for the offences of armed robbery and murder.

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For the offence of attempted murder and conspiracy, Justice Ogundana convicted and sentenced the four men to life imprisonment.

The prosecution stated that the offences were committed by the convicts at Oyan Orete Camp in the ljan area of Ekiti State on May 29, 2017.

It said the convicts robbed the residents of the camp at gunpoint, adding that one Olasunkanmi Ramon was murdered.

The prosecution also informed the court that the convicts attacked one Alhaji Usman Adeleye and inflicted him with machete cuts on the head.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibare, who prosecuted the case for Ekiti State Government, called five witnesses and tendered seven exhibits to prove his case.

The convicts, who pleaded not guilty to the offences, were represented by counsel Chris Omokhafe and Oluwaseun Oyebanji.

The four men gave evidence in their own defence during trial and called two other witnesses.

The Star