At the Ekiti State High Court, in Ado-Ekiti, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, has sentenced three persons, Shadrack Apos, 30, Lucky Akpos, 33, and Adunola Precious, 24, to death by hanging for robbing an 87-year-old woman.
The convicts were arraigned before Justice Ogunmoye on 19th August, 2024, on a two count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.
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The charge reads: “The defendants on 12/6/24 at Ifaki Ekiti did conspire to rob one Victoria Folorunso of the cash sum of N147,000 and wristwatch, as at the time of the robbery they were armed with gun and planks, contrary to Sections 421 and 321 (2) (b) of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.”
In her testimony before the court, the 87- year-old victim said, “I was sleeping around 1:00 am when I suddenly saw two persons in my room, one held and pointed a gun at my forehead while the second person held a plank. They asked me to bring all the money I have in the house, I was about lifting my mattress where I kept the money, they helped me to lift it, they took the N100,000 I have there and another N47,000 I kept in my underwear.”
According to the victim, they took a wristwatch given to her by her children. She alleged that they also took her phone but later retuned it to her.
“When they threatened to shoot me, I told them I have N3 million in my account, they instructed me to withdraw the money the following day and give to Precious Adunola my house help to deliver it to them by 11:00 am. They were not masked, they did not break the door and were relating freely with my house help,” she added.
She further said the convicts warned her not to tell anybody or else they will kidnap and kill her. “They were calling and threatening me thereafter for taking too long to receive the money. I later called and informed my children.”
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called two witnesses and tendered defendant’s statements, search warrant, wooden gun among others as exhibits, while the defendants spoke through their lawyers Oluwatoyin Marcus and Mitchel Aribisala.
They called one witness each.
In his judgment, Justice Ogunmoye said the prosecution proved the case against the defendants.
The judge pronounced: “My earlier findings that the 3rd defendant, Adunola Precious must have opened the door to enable the robbers have seamless entry into the house she was sharing with the victim aptly demonstrated her own pivotal role in the plan to rob the victim.
“From the believable evidence before the court therefore, it was clear that the prosecution had been able to establish that the defendants planned and agreed to rob the victim on 12th June, 2024. The charge of conspiracy and armed robbery had therefore been proved beyond reasonable doubt against the defendants.
“They are also found guilty and convicted as charged in this court.
“The 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants are to be hanged by the neck until they were dead. May God have mercy on their souls.”