Ekiti court sentences five to death for armed robbery, murder

An Ekiti State High Court has sentenced five individuals to death by hanging for their involvement in armed robbery and the murder of a night guard. The convicts were also handed 21-year prison terms each for conspiracy. The defendants — Ojo Tope, Damilola Christopher, Joshua Adegoke, Aderopo Temitope, and Oyedele Oluwatobi — were found guilty of committing the crimes on August 18, 2021, at Agogo Street, Ilupeju Avenue, Odo Ado, Ado-Ekiti.

According to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibare, who led the prosecution, the five men robbed victims Ajiboye Olajide, Lateef Temidayo Busari, and Akeem Isiaka of cash, laptops, mobile phones, and other personal items. During the robbery, they also murdered the street’s night guard, identified as Joseph Blessing. The prosecution presented four witnesses and tendered 13 exhibits in support of the case.



The defendants, represented by counsel Adeyinka Opaleke, testified in their own defense but called no additional witnesses. Delivering the judgment, Justice Olalekan Olatawura ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven the charges of armed robbery, murder, and conspiracy beyond reasonable doubt. He subsequently sentenced the defendants to death by hanging for armed robbery and murder, and 21 years imprisonment for conspiracy.

.