By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A cleric, Evangelist Adewale Adelu and five others are to die by hanging for armed robbery. They were sentenced to death by Justice Yemi Fasanmi of Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure.
The other condemned convicts sentenced to death with Adewale Adelu were Ikechukwu Maduagwu, Fayemi Olubusuyi, Ropo Adeleye, Dele Otopka, and Bayo Omotosho.
They were found guilty of robbing two commercial banks in Akure and Idanre on November 19 and December 8, 2011.
It was established that during the robbery operation, the convicts stole N30 million from Diamond Bank Plc, Akure, as well as various brands of phones. In addition, they robbed First Bank Plc in Idanre, where they made away with N4 million.
The convicts were arraigned on July 14, 2022, on four counts charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms.
They were remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre after they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The offences contravene Sections 6b, (1) 2a, and b of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Vol. 14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004
During the trial, the prosecutor F.K Salami told the court that the convicts also attacked a church around Adaba FM, Ilara-Mokin at 12:45 pm, and robbed two Pastors, Jeremiah Adanlawo and D.O Ajayi of their cars with number plates JU522EKY and JV322EKY respectively.
One of the prosecution witnesses testified that the robbers gained entrance into the banking hall while armed with guns.
“We suddenly heard sporadic gunshots in the bank premises. And they thereafter, blasted the entrance of the bank to gain access to the banking hall.
“One of the robbers who was masked, asked me to open the box and he packed away all the money in the box, including naira and dollars. And in the process, a policeman identified as Olowoyelu was shot dead,” the witness said.
The trial Judge, Justice Yemi Fasanmi, who pronounced the death sentence, said the prosecution proved the offence of armed robbery against all the convicts beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Fasanmi noted that though no eyewitness and evidence directly linked the defendants to the commission of the crime, the confessional statements of each of the defendants corroborated with the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, including the evidence of their arrest and how they were arrested.
He held that the offence of conspiracy was proven beyond doubt as the robbery was coordinated via phone call by the second defendant, Evangelist Adelu who resides in Akure.
Justice Fasanmi found the defendants guilty and sentenced them to death by hanging in each of the counts.
“The defendants are to die by hanging until they are certified dead”, the judge pronounced.
