An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced three persons to death by hanging.
The court equally sentenced one person to 10 years imprisonment while another was set free.
The suspects were brought before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on January 30, 2020 on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and membership of secret cult.
The charge reads that the defendants Babalola Bidemi, Akinwale Oluwaseun, Oyebanji Sola, Jimoh Azeez and Ogunlade Babatunde, on March 10, 2018 at Oke Oniyo Street, Ado Ekiti conspired to commit felony, to wit, armed robbery.
It further stated that, on the same day, they did rob Tijani Omowumi and Ogunrinde Olumide of their phones, plasma television, wrist watch, necklace, shirts, trousers, shuttle bag, a cash sum of N5, 000 among others.
In her statement to the police, one of the victims recalled how she was attacked and robbed of her valuables by the criminals.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Dolapo Oyewole, called five witnesses and tendered defendant statements, phones, wraps of Indian hemp, and motorcycle with ignition among others as exhibits.
The defendants spoke in their own defence through their respective lawyers and called two witnesses.
Adeyinka Opaleke, counsel to Akinwale Oluwaseun, in his submission, proved his innocence of the alleged offence.
In his judgement, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said, in all, the sole issue for determination is resolved in part in favour of the prosecution.
The judge sentenced the first defendant, Babalola Bidemi to 10 years imprisonment; discharged and acquitted the second defendants, Akinwale Oluwaseun in all the charges against him.
For the third to fifth defendants, Oyebanji Sola, Jimoh Azeez and Ogunlade Babatunde, justice Ogunmoye found guilty as charged and thereby sentenced to death by hanging.
