A High Court in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday sentenced a 51-year-old man, Owoeye Ojo, to death by hanging for armed robbery and attempted murder.
Ojo was arraigned on August 25, 2023, on a four-count charge related to two robbery incidents that occurred in May 2023. According to court records, Ojo and others—armed with guns, axes, and cutlasses—robbed and attempted to murder two women: Funmilayo Adeyemi and Omolola Adesola.
On May 21, 2023, the gang attacked Adeyemi at Oluwole Orungbe Street, stealing her handbag, phone, and cash, valued at N85,000. A week earlier, on May 12, they also robbed Adesola at Ilokun, Ado-Ekiti, making away with her laptop, phones, flash drives, and N10,000 in cash.
During the trial, Adesola testified that the attackers stormed her home around 8:00 p.m. and forced her and her son to the ground at gunpoint before looting their belongings. She later identified Ojo at the police station as one of the robbers.
The prosecution, led by Florence Ajumobi, presented four witnesses and submitted key evidence including a single-barrel gun, live cartridges, the defendant’s statement, and photos of the victims. The defense, represented by Lawrence Fasanmi, called no witnesses.
Delivering the verdict, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“With the credible evidence before the court, it is clear the defendant took part in the armed robbery. The prosecution has established his guilt. Consequently, the defendant is hereby sentenced to death by hanging. May God have mercy on his soul,” the judge declared.