In the city of Osogbo, an Osun State High Court has handed down a death sentence by hanging to two men in their middle-aged years for committing armed robbery.
Justice Ayo Oyebiyi presided over the court proceedings and pronounced Wasiu Afolayan, aged 36 and a battery charger, along with Kola Adeyemi, aged 34 and a spare parts dealer, guilty on Thursday.
The duo faced a five-count charge which included conspiracy, armed robbery, attempted armed robbery, unlawful possession of arms, and murder under various sections of the Nigerian law.
Despite pleading not guilty, the Ministry of Justice’s prosecuting counsel, Barrister Bewaji Adeniji, presented evidence that on December 7, 2018, the accused laid siege near C.A.C No. 16, Oke-Onitea Area, Osogbo, robbing residents. Afolayan was apprehended at the crime scene, leading to Adeyemi’s arrest in Ikire based on Afolayan’s confession.
It was further disclosed that this same gang had previously conducted a robbery on November 26, 2018, at No. 3, Oduola Street, Igbona area, Osogbo, resulting in the death of Olaniyi Adewale.
After a thorough examination of the facts, Justice Oyebiyi concluded that the prosecution had convincingly proven the charges against the defendants and pronounced them guilty as charged.
The suspects’ counsel, Adeshina Olaniyan, had appealed for leniency citing their lack of criminal history.