Two men, Wasiu Afolayan (36), and Kola Adeyemi (34) were, yesterday, sentenced to death by Justice Ayo Oyebiyi of the Osun State High Court, Osogbo, for robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.
Afolayan, a battery charger, and Adeyemi, a spare part dealer, were arraigned on four count charges, including conspiracy, armed robbery, attempted robbery, and unlawful possession of arms contrary to and punishable under section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (special provisions) Act, Cap R.11, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The convicts pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned before the court.
Prosecutor from the Ministry of Justice, Bewaji Adeniji, told the court that the convicts robbed the residents of C.A.C No.16, Oke-Onitea Area, Osogbo, on December 7, 2018. He disclosed that the arrest of Afolayan at the scene of the crime, and his subsequent confession led to the arrest of Adeyemi, at Ikire, in the Irewole local government of the state.
He explained that the convicts robbed residents of Oduola Street, Igbona Area, Osogbo, on November 26, 2018, where they carted away properties and killed one Olaniyi Adewale with the gun during the robbery operation and escaped from the scene.
During the trial, the prosecutor called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including the extra-judicial statements made at both Divisional Police Headquarters and the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). Justice Oyebiyi held that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and found the convicts guilty.
Counsel to the convicts, Adesina Olaniyan, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy on his clients, saying they are first offenders and ready to change for good. Justice Oyebiyi, thereby, sentenced them to death by hanging.
