Armed Robbery: Bricklayer To Die By Hanging Court Rules

Armed Robbery: Bricklayer To Die By Hanging Court Rules

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of the Lagos State High court, sitting in Ikeja yesterday convicted and sentenced a ‎bricklayer, Femi Adebowale to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.

Justice Ipaye handed down the verdict after  he found the convict guilty of a four count charge brought against him by the Lagos state government in accordance with section 295(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

According to the judge the mimimum penalty provided by the law is death sentence for each of the four counts over which the convict was charged.

She held,  "‎In accordance with the provision of the law, you are hereby sentenced to death by hanging by the neck until death. May the Lord have mercy on us", she said.

During the trial, the Prosecution, Akin George had accused Adebowale of robbing one Alhaja Amudalat Olowo-Eyo of gold jewelries‎ valued over N500,000.00; cash of N350,000.00 and other valuable documents at gun point.

George had told the court that the convict, with others at large, robbed their victims on December 28, 2012 between 1.00 a.m. and 2.00 am at their residence, 10, Aiyetolu street, Abule Egba, Lagos.

The convict, when arraigned last year, had pleaded not guilty to the four count charge.

The complainant, Alhaja Olowo-Eyo had told the court how the convict and others at large robbed her‎ at her residence.

She had told the court that she and her family were gathered in their parlour and ‎told that they would waste their lives if they refused to cooperate with them.

She said she identified the convict as being among bricklayers brought in by her landlord for the renovation of the house two days before the incident.

She said that after robbing them, her husband was able to pin one of the robbers down, a situation that gave her courage to also held to another robber next to her.

In order to free himself, she said the robber shot her twice in the chest but that God kept her alive.

She said colleagues of the convict who escaped came back 20 minutes later and rained bullets on their apartment.

She said one of her daughters was hit in the stomach, another on the back while her son was hit on the thigh.

She said the incidence was reported at Ile Epo Police station while they were treated at the General Hospital in the area.

In her judgment, Justice Ipaye dismissed the alibi provided by the convict that he was away in Akure for his marriage introduction ceremony on the day of the incident.

She also‎ described as not credible, the evidence provided by the supposed father in-law who told the court during trial he met the convict for the first time on the day of the ceremony.

Citing several authorities, the trial judge noted that the evidence provided before the court by the complainant and her daughter‎ among other evidences were not controverted by the defence led, Yemi Omodele.

Justice Ipaye said the prosecution proved their charge of conspiracy as the act was carried out by more than one person.

The judge also said that the prosecution  proved the case of armed robbery against the convict.

Justice Ipaye therefore sentenced the convict to death "by hanging by the neck until death"  stressing that the prosecution has proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.