In a recent ruling, the Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti Division has handed down the death penalty to Benjamin Joseph (32) and Stephen Orban (25) for their involvement in an armed robbery. The convicts were found guilty of robbing two individuals of cash and valuable items and were sentenced to death by hanging.
The trial began on December 30, 2022, with the defendants facing four counts related to conspiracy and armed robbery. According to the charges, the incident occurred, along Iluomoba Road in Aisegba Ekiti. The defendants were armed with locally made guns, knives, and cutlasses when they attacked Daramola Christiana and Ajayi Alaba, robbing them of their phones, power bank, creams, drugs, ATM cards, and a sum of N105,000 in cash.
The charges against the defendants were in violation of Sections 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
During the trial, one of the victims, a trader, testified that four armed men attacked them at a barricaded point in Aisegba Ekiti along the Omuo-Ado Ekiti Road. The assailants took their belongings and the cash sum of N105,000 before fleeing into the bush. The trader was eventually rescued by a sympathizer, and the driver reported the incident to the police in Omuo.
The prosecutor, Ibironke Odetola, presented six witnesses and submitted various items, including charms, phones, camouflage underwear, a hammer, three hoods, fake dollar notes, and cutlasses, as evidence. The defendants, represented by their lawyer Adeyinka Opaleke, chose not to call any witnesses and presented their defense through Opaleke.
In her judgment, Justice Blessing Ajileye stated that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt. She found Benjamin Joseph and Stephen Orban guilty and pronounced the sentence of death by hanging. The judge concluded with a plea for mercy on their souls.
This ruling demonstrates the commitment of the Ekiti State High Court to uphold the law and ensure justice is served. It serves as a reminder that armed robbery and violent crimes will be met with severe consequences. The judgment also highlights the importance of the judicial system in maintaining law and order and protecting the rights of citizens.
The Ekiti State High Court’s decision sends a strong message to potential criminals that their actions will not go unpunished. It is crucial for law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to continue working together to combat crime and maintain peace and security in the state.
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