Court sentences 2 to death by hanging for robbery

By Idowu Adebomi

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced two men, Ojo Tosin Olasunkanmi (31) and Obamoyegun Dele (31), to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.

The convicts were initially arraigned alongside a third defendant, Adewale David (36), who died while the trial was ongoing.

The case, which commenced on January 31, 2020, was later amended on March 25, 2025, to a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery, contrary to Sections 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R11, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

According to the charge, the defendants, on August 11, 2018, at Oganganmodu, off Igbole Road in Ido Ekiti, conspired to commit armed robbery and subsequently carried out a coordinated attack on several victims. During the operation, they were said to be armed with guns and axes.

The prosecution told the court that the victims included Apanisile Femi, who was dispossessed of mobile phones; Ojo Bosede, who lost her phones, a Toyota Sienna Space Bus, and N120,000; Omosanya Olusegun, who was robbed of phones, a laptop, a DVD player, a baby flask, and N20,000; Bidemi Faleye, who lost N150,000; and Gbenga Faleye, whose phones were taken.

Testifying before the court, one of the victims, Ojo Bosede, narrated how the incident occurred when she and members of her family travelled from Lagos to attend a wedding in Igbole Ekiti.

She said at about 1:00 a.m., unknown persons stormed their residence, posing as officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and demanded entry on the pretext of acting on intelligence about hidden drugs.

“When we refused to open the gate, they scaled the fence and broke into the house using a heavy stone. They robbed everyone in the house of valuables, including phones, cash, and electronic items.

They also took the key to my Sienna vehicle, which my children bought for me, and drove it away,” she told the court, adding that the matter was reported to the police the following day.

To establish its case, the prosecution, led by O.B. Ayeleso, called nine witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including the defendants’ confessional statements, a black axe, 15 SIM cards, mobile phones, the recovered Sienna Space Bus, and photographs.

The defendants, who testified in their own defence through their counsel, Ogunremi Opeyemi and Oluwatoyin Marcus, did not call any witnesses.

In his judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso held that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

He noted that the offence of conspiracy is often inferred from the conduct of the accused persons and the circumstances surrounding the crime.

“The offence of conspiracy is embedded in the agreement or plot between the parties and is usually deduced from their actions in pursuit of a common unlawful purpose,” the judge said.

Justice Omotoso resolved all issues in favour of the prosecution and found the defendants guilty as charged.

“Accordingly, the defendants, Ojo Tosin Olasunkanmi and Obamoyegun Dele, are hereby sentenced to death by hanging until they are dead. May God have mercy upon your souls,” he pronounced.