COURT JAILS TWO ALLEGED ROBBERS TO 21 YEARS

An Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced two men, Ajibade Adeniyi and Tosin Ojo, to 21 years imprisonment each for robbery.

Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye found the duo guilty of robbery.He said the terms would run from the day of their arrest and detention in 2012.

The judge held that the prosecution failed to prove the case of robbery against the accused, but ruled that they were found guilty.

Adeniyi, 27,  Ojo, 21 and Lekan Olatunji were arrested and remanded at Ado-Ekiti prisons after committing the crime. Olatunji was among those who escaped during the December 31, 2014 jailbreak, leaving the first two to stand for trial.

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Gbemiga Adaramola, appeared for the state. Chris Omokhafe appeared for the first accused, while Adeola Adetayo from the Legal Aid Council appeared for the second accused.

The prosecution told the court the accused invaded a house in Ureje, Ado-Ekiti, stealing phones and N20,000.

They were arrested at their hideout in Mugbagba, Ado-Ekiti.The accused were first arraigned at an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court before issuance of an advice from the DPP, which established a robbery case against them at the State High Court.

The DPP called three witnesses and tendered exhibits, including a statement of the accused, a knife, a cutlass, two pairs of sandals, a mask, two phones, two torchlights and money.

The accused did not call any witness.