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Ekiti: 3 To Die By Hanging For Armed Robbery

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An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced three persons to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.

The defendants, Omotayo Deji (23), Chidiebere Ifeanyin (25) and Bolaji Usman (28), were arraigned before Justice Bamidele Omotoso on January 21, 2020, on four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.

The charge reads that the defendants on “May 6, 2019, at Aba Erinfun, Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti in Ado Ekiti Judicial Division did conspire to commit a felony, to wit; armed robbery and robbed Ademiloye Stephen, Olokuntoye Temitope and Ajayi Kolade of their belongings, such as, phones, laptop computer, sandals, phone chargers and power banks valued at N186,000, as at the time of the robbery, they were armed with cutlass and wooden plank.”

READ ALSO: Amotekun Tortures 14-yr-old Boy To Death Over Stepmother’s Missing N500

According to the charges, the offences are contrary to Sections 6 (b), 1 (2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

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In his statement to the police, one of the victims said, “We were sleeping in our room around 2:30 a.m., suddenly, I heard a loud sound on the door, immediately, we woke up, I saw the defendants armed with cutlasses and wooden planks, immediately, they broke the electric bulb with the plank in their hand, they commanded us lay face down and bring out all our money, we told them, we are students and we don’t have money, they started beating us with the stick and cutlass.

“Thereafter, they collected our phones, laptops, chargers, sandals, power banks and other items I could not remember and ran away,” he concluded.

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called one witness and tendered statements of the victims and defendants, among others, as exhibits.

 

The defendants spoke in their own defence through their counsels, they called no witness.

READ ALSO: Osun Court Sentences Six To Death By Hanging

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In his judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said, “I am of the strong opinion that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of armed robbery against the defendants.

“They are hereby found guilty as charged and convicted for the offence of armed robbery.

“The sentence of the court upon you,Omotayo Deji, Chidiebere Ifeanyin, and Bolaji Usman is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and may the Lord have mercy on your souls.”

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Anambra Court Jails Two For Vandalising Electricity Cables

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A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, the Anambra State capital has sentenced Chinonso Chinaemelu, 27-year-old, and Okoye Christian, 20-year-old to one-year imprisonment respectively for vandalising a distribution substation belonging to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc.

This development was made known by the Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, in a statement on Thursday.

Ezeh said the duo were arrested on November 29, 2023, by Abatete local vigilante group while attempting to vandalise the distribution substation within the locality.

He also confirmed that in the same week, a couple identified as Mr & Mrs Ebuka Umeh, were arrested by members of Isuorji community neighbourhood security in Orlu, Imo State.

READ ALSO: Hoodlums Set Anambra Police Station Ablaze

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According to him, the couple was arrested when the wife was attempting to pick the vandalised items from a distribution substation belonging to EEDC with their motorcycle, adding that the couple attacked the substation for three days.

Ezeh said, “In a related development, a vandal suspect identified as Chukwuebuka Ezike who hails from Umunachi in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State was arrested by Umuezinachi community neighbourhood watch while he was cutting aluminum conductor around Orie Uguiri Market.

“At Amachi-Izhia, Ebonyi State, Amara Joseph Ajagbo was arrested by members of the Electricity Committee for vandalizing nine spans of aluminum conductors in their community, while two of his gang members escaped.

READ ALSO: Court Sentences Chinese To Death For Killing Nigerian Girlfriend

“The suspects have been handed over to the respective Police formations for proper investigation and possible prosecution.”

Ezeh lamented the spate of vandalism in the EEDC network, stating that it is a major challenge negatively impacting the smooth operations of the company.

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According to him, between January 2022 to date, the company has recorded over 170 cases of vandalism in its network, with about 135 suspected vandals arrested, out of which over 100 have been charged to court.

He stressed that the company will not relent in its resolve to prosecute these arrested suspects and go all out to fish out receivers of these vandalized items as they remain the motivation for the vandals.

Ezeh lamented that it has become difficult for the organisation to fund the restoration of vandalised infrastructure and that the development is affecting service delivery to customers.

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Hoodlums Set Anambra Police Station Ablaze

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Some yet-to-be-identified assailants have set ablaze the police divisional headquarters in Nneni, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

It was gathered that the hoodlums invaded the facility in the early hours of Thursday and threw explosive devices that burnt parts of the building.

A source and one of the residents in the area said the hoodlums were attempting to free some inmates at the facility, but they were unsuccessful as police officers on duty repelled the attack.

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When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack but added that no life was lost.

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“In Nneni, no life was lost. No policeman was whisked away, and no armed was taken away. Instead, the hoodlums threw IEDs into the police facility, which torched part of the building.

“Our operatives gallantly resisted the attackers, which made them flee. Operations are still ongoing, and further developments shall be communicated,” Ikenga said.

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Court Orders Release Of 313 Suspected Terrorists

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A Federal High Court in Borno has ordered the release of no fewer than 313 suspected terrorists arrested by the military.

The court ordered their release for lack of evidence to nail the suspects after the investigation.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, disclosed this during a briefing on military operations across the country on Thursday in Abuja.

He assured all that the military would comply with the court order and release the suspected terrorists to the state government.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Military Yields To Pressure, Frees Abducted Lagos Editor

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Buba said, “During the week, as a follow up to a court order of the Federal High Court in Maiduguri, a total of 313 suspects in detention for terrorism-related offences were to be released to the Borno State government.

“The court ordered the release for want of evidence after the conclusion of the investigation and other ancillary matters.

“The cases were prosecuted by the Department of Prosecution, Federal Ministry of Justice. Accordingly, they would be handed over to the Borno State Government for further action.”

The PUNCH reports that this is not the first time suspected terrorists would be acquitted for want of evidence.

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The Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had on December 4, 2023, said out of a total of 1,323 suspects prosecuted for terrorism, only 366 convictions were secured.

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He noted that 896 others were discharged for lack of evidence.

Fagbemi said, “I must acknowledge the fact that we have come a long way in this initiative. The first phase of the Kainji Prosecution Project commenced in October 2017 with remarkable achievements where we recorded a total of 366 convictions, 896 others were discharged for want of sufficient evidence and 61 other cases adjourned for further hearing.

“There have been three phases of the exercise so far, spanning between October 2017 and July 2018. I must, at this point, challenge all stakeholders to ensure that the momentum is sustained, seeing how important this assignment is to the well-being of our beloved country and her people.”

 

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