Two Men Sentenced To Death By Hanging For Armed Robbery And Rape In Ekiti

An Ado-Ekiti High Court has sentenced two persons, Deji Owolabi, 30, and Opeyemi Oluwakomolafe, 22, to death by hanging for armed robbery and rape.

Ekiti Court Sentences Two Men To Death By Hanging

The suspects were accused of escaping from lawful custody during a jailbreak at the Ado-Ekiti Prison on December 1, 2014. They also robbed a couple on July 14, 2015, at Ilumoba Ekiti where they raped the 35-year-old wife.

The duo were first arraigned on January 13, 2017, for committing offenses bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, rape and escape from lawful custody at Ado Ekiti Correctional Centre on December 1, 2014.

The charge read, “The defendants on July 14, 2015, at Oketa, Iluomoba Ekiti, in the Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, did conspire to commit armed robbery on Lucas Agboola and Oladele Oseyemi, as well as Adeyemi Comfort on the same day at Araromi Street, Aisegba Ekiti, while armed with cutlass and gun.

“On same date, time and place, the defendants also raped a 35-year-old woman. The defendants escaped from lawful custody at Ado Ekiti Prison on December 1, 2014.

“The offences contravene Sections 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap RII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and also, Sections 357 punishable under Section 358 and Section 135 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”

The prosecutor, Ilesanmi Adelusi, called five witnesses and tendered a dane gun, 10 handsets, one rechargeable torchlight, four handset batteries, N21,060 cash, recharge cards, machete and statements of the defendants as exhibits.

The convicts rejected five different lawyers arranged for them and chose to defend themselves. They also called two witnesses.

Delivering judgment, presiding Justice Monisola Abodunde said: “in my view, the defendants are compulsive pathological liars who have become hardened criminals.

“Rather than mend their ways in prison, they escaped prison during a jailbreak and continued to unleash terror on the community until nemesis caught up with them.

“They are a threat to a peaceful existence in our society and they must be made to face the reality of the consequences of their wicked behaviour.

“In conclusion, I find the two defendants guilty as charged in counts 1,2,3,5 and 6 and convicted accordingly. In counts 1, 2 and 3 (armed robbery) they are sentenced to death by hanging and may the Lord have mercy on your souls.”

KanyiDaily had also reported how two men were sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery and murder of their friend in gun State.