Ekiti Court Sentences 27-Year-Old Man to Life Imprisonment for Armed Robbery 

Ekiti Court Sentences 27-Year-Old Man to Life Imprisonment for Armed Robbery 

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 27-year-old man, Alex Peter, to life imprisonment for armed robbery.

Peter, who was arraigned on December 29, 2022, faced two counts of conspiracy and armed robbery. He was also handed a nine-year sentence for conspiracy.

According to the charge sheet, “The defendant and others at large on 16th May, 2022, at Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction did conspire to commit armed robbery on one Augustine Steven by stealing his red Bajaj motorcycle with registration number AMK 569 UJ and cash of N15,000.

“At the time of the robbery, he was armed with a cutlass and an axe, contrary to Sections 314 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.”

The victim, a commercial motorcyclist, told the court that the incident occurred around 8:45 p.m. along NTA Road, Ado Ekiti.

He narrated, “The defendant stopped me to take him to Judge’s Quarters. On getting there, he alighted from the motorcycle. I was expecting him to pay, but instead, someone emerged from the bush with a cutlass. I turned to the passenger, who already held an axe. They collected N15,000 cash from me and took my motorcycle away. I saw the defendant’s face clearly because there was light along the road. I reported the matter at the New Iyin Road Police Station.

“On the third day, I saw the defendant at a restaurant and grabbed him. Some passersby helped me call the police. He initially denied robbing me, but the motorcycle was later found in his house when the police conducted a search.”

The prosecution counsel, O.S. Akinwumi, called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s confessional statements, motorcycle particulars and other evidence before the court.

The defendant, represented by counsel Stanley Okonkwo, testified in his own defence but called no additional witnesses.

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Delivering judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye found the defendant guilty on both counts.

“It is in evidence that the defendant himself confessed that he was one of the armed robbers. I find the defendant guilty as charged,” the judge ruled.

“On the whole, the defendant is hereby sentenced to nine years imprisonment for conspiracy and life imprisonment for the offence of armed robbery.”

In a related development, the Enugu State Police Command recently arrested a 42-year-old man, Chinweuba Edeh, for allegedly robbing a Point of Sale (POS) operator of ₦70,000 at gunpoint in Nkanu West Local Government Area.