Justice Isiaka Adeleke of Osun State High Court, Ilesha Division on Thursday sentenced a 29 year old mechanic, Sola Emorua to death by hanging for Armed Robbery.
Emorua who was standing trial on two counts charge of Conspiracy and Armed Robbery contrary to Section 6(b) and 2 (a), (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act CAP R.11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
When the two counts charges were read to him, the convict however pleaded not guilty.
He was reportedly arraigned before the Court on 29th of January, 2018.
Prosecution Counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Motolani Sokefun told the Court that on the 7th day of May, 2015 at about 5:30pm at Ayorunto Area, Ilesha/Akure Expressway, Osu, Emorua and others at large, armed with dangerous weapons which include guns and cutlasses, robbed one Ismaila Azeez of his Tanker with Registration number: XV 298 APP loaded with thirty three (33) thousand Litres of Kerosene.
The case was then reported to the police and few weeks later, Emorua and his gang robbed another tanker loaded with petrol at the same spot where Ismaila was robbed. Unfortunately for them, they were intercepted by the police and two members of the gang were arrested.
Sokefun stated further that in the course of the investigation police invited Ismaila Azeez and Ibrahim Azeez for further interrogation on how they were robbed.
The victims (Ismaila and Ibrahim) were able to identify Emorua as part of the gang that robbed them.
Ismaila equally testified in court that they were taken to the bush and tied down and matcheted on the head.
Meanwhile, Emorua and others are reportedly facing a different armed robbery trial currently in another Court.
To prove her case, the Prosecutor called three witnesses and tendered several exhibits including confessional statement of the convict, circumstantial evidence and evidence of eyewitness to the crime.
Counsel to the convict, Kehinde Aworele. Esq during the trial told the court that confessional statement tendered by the prosecutor in which convict admitted to the crime was denied by the convict.
Aworele claimed that the two statements were written by the Police officer and after prolonged torture the convict signed it.
The convict narrated that he was a mechanic and came to Ilesha to repair a vehicle the previous day and was on his way back to his base in Ore, Ondo State when the Policemen arrested him while waiting to board a vehicle.
In his judgement Justice Adeleke said that the Prosecutor has proven his case beyond reasonable doubt and found him guilty on the two counts charge preferred against him.
He, however, sentenced him to death by hanging on armed robbery and conspiracy.
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