Man to die by hanging in Ekiti for armed theft

An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 30-year-old man, Bello Abduquadri, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

Abduquadri was arraigned on March 8, 2023, on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery for robbing someone of a phone and motorbike armed with a gun and cutlass.

The charge read, “That you, Bello Abdulquadril and others at large, on March 22, 2022, at Ado Ekiti, conspired to commit armed robbery, and on the same date, time, and place, you robbed one Owolabi Taiwo of his phone and Jincheng Lady Motorcycle. At the time of the robbery, you were armed with offensive weapons, to wit, a gun and cutlass.

“The offences are contrary to Sections 314 and 312 (2)(a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.”

In his evidence before the court, the victim said that two men, armed with guns and cutlasses, attacked him and his brother and threatened to kill them, following which “they dispossessed us of my phone and our Lady Bike and escaped. We reported the matter at Amotekun’s office.

“On the second day, I received a call from Iyara Police Station in Kogi State to come there with my phone and motorcycle receipts. I informed them at the police headquarters in Ado Ekiti.

“They made all necessary arrangements and left for Kogi State; after documentation and verification of the receipts, the phone, the motorcycle, and the suspect were released to the policemen from Ekiti.”

The prosecutor, Adeola Johnson, called three witnesses and tendered defendant statements, motorcycle particulars, receipts, and a search warrant, among others, as exhibits.

The defendant spoke through his lawyer, E.K. Adetifa, who pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy; he called no witnesses.

In his judgment, Justice Olalekan Olatawura found Abduquadri guilty of the offences of armed robbery and conspiracy.

Olatawura said, “The defendant is found guilty of the offences of conspiracy and armed robbery as charged.

“On conspiracy, the defendant, is sentenced to seven years imprisonment, and in Count 2 (armed robbery), the sentence of the count upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and may God have mercy on your soul.”