Two men, Olusegun Folorunso, 53, and Ajayi Dele, 51, have been sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery in Ekiti State.
The High Court in Ado-Ekiti, presided over by Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi, delivered the verdict on Thursday, convicting the duo on charges of conspiracy and armed robbery.
The prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemi, revealed that on August 24, 2022, the men attacked their victims along the Erio-Ekiti road, brandishing guns and cutlasses. They robbed one Ajogbeje Ayodeji of his Hyundai Sonata, phone, and laptop, and also took the phone of another victim, Oluwasegun Oke.
Recounting his ordeal in court, Ayodeji said, “At about 4 a.m., my two brothers and I were on our way from Erio-Ekiti to Ido-Ekiti when we saw a barricade on the road. Suddenly, the attackers emerged, pointed their guns at us, and ordered us to lie face down. They took my car, our phones, and my laptop before speeding off.”
The case was reported at the Aramoko Police Station and later escalated to the Rapid Response Squad in Ado-Ekiti. Days later, the suspects were tracked and arrested in Ibadan.
The prosecution presented strong evidence, including the defendants’ confessional statements, a locally made single-barrel gun, a double-barrel gun, and six live cartridges.
Despite the defense lawyers’ plea for mercy, the judge found them guilty.
“For conspiracy, the defendants are sentenced to 10 years in prison. For armed robbery, they are to be hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God have mercy on your souls,” Justice Ogunyemi ruled.
