Network Times

Ondo Court Sentences Pastor, Five Others To Death By Hanging For Robbery

By Alfred Ifemosu

Ondo State High Court in Akure, Ondo State capital, has sentenced a pastor and five others to death by hanging over their involvement in bank robberies which took place in Akure and Idanre in 2011.

The convicts include a pastor, Adewale Adelu, and five others – Ikechuckwu Maduagwu, Fayemi Olubusuyi, Ropo Adeleye, Dele Otopka, and Bayo Omotosho.

The court presided by Justice Yemi Fasanmi on Wednesday found them guilty of robbing two commercial banks in Akure and Idanre on November 19 and December 8, 2011 in Akure and Idanre respectively.

They were arrested by the men of the state police command and were charged to court.

When the trial began, the convicts were arraigned before the court on four-count charge bothering on conspiracy, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms and were later remanded in Olokuta Correctional Centre.

The prosecuting counsel, F.K Salami, told the court that the convicts and others were “armed with AK 47 guns, dynamite, and other weapons at Oyemekun Road, Akure, conspired to attack and robbed a branch of Diamond Bank Plc, after which they went away with a sum of N30million and different brand of phones, including other valuable property.

“The convicts on December 8, 2011, at 2 pm, were also alleged to have robbed First Bank Plc at Yaba Road, Idanre, where they carted away another sum of N4million.”

According to the police prosecutor , “the offences contravene Sections 6b, 1 2a, and b of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Vol. 14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

There were arguments from both the prosecuting and defence counsel at various court proceedings on the matter while witnesses were also invited to the court to testify.

Justice Fasanmi held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, just as he also said the defendants were unanimous in their confessions and the role each of them played in the robberies.

Based on this, Justice Fasanmi “sentenced all the defendants to death by hanging in each of the counts.”

Latest On Ekiti Bank Robbery: Police Confirms Recovery Of Vehicles, Motorcycles

By Akeem Oduyoye

Ekiti State Police Command has disclosed that it has recovered three vehicles and two motorcycles used by the armed robbers that invaded Ikere-Ekiti, killing three people during bank robberies in the town.

This is contained in a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Sunday Abutu, on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti.

Recall that the Ekiti State Police Commissioner, Ogundare Dare, has vowed to apprehend the perpetrators of a broad daylight bank robbery in Ikere-Ekiti on Wednesday.

In a press release late Wednesday via the command X account, Dare said he expressed “displeasure over the ugly incident” and has ordered a full-scale investigation to “ensure the perpetrators are trailed, arrested, and brought to book.”

Recall that on Wednesday evening, three people were feared to have been killed in armed robbery attacks on two new-generation banks in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The command is on the trail of the fleeing suspects, who abandoned the vehicles after a hot chase by men of the command.

The CP has also visited the scene of the armed robbery incident at Ikere-Ekiti for an on-the-spot assessment.

Dare, who expressed displeasure over the ugly incident, directed the Ikere Area Commander and all the tactical teams within the command to ensure the perpetrators were trailed, arrested, and brought to book.

While commiserating with the family members of those who were fatally affected and wishing those currently receiving treatment in the hospital a quick recovery, the commissioner called for “calm and implored everyone to go about their lawful businesses as the command would not rest until the hoodlums were made to face the full wrath of the law.”

Meanwhile, the command’s tactical squads as well as the military, who were deployed to the scene on Wednesday, December 13, immediately received information and engaged the hoodlums, who abandoned the three vehicles and two motorcycles they used for the operation and escaped into the bush.

It read, “The vehicles and motorcycles were recovered at the station.”

The CP urged people with relevant information that would lead to the arrest of the armed robbers to come forward with it.

“The commissioner enjoined anyone with useful information concerning the identities and/or whereabouts of armed hoodlums to contact the following GSM numbers: 08062335577, 07031620186, 08033470524, 07032152150, and 09064050086,” it added.

Source: NAN