Four persons, who had been standing trial for alleged criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, yesterday, wept uncontrollably when they were sentenced to death by hanging by an Ilorin High Court, in Kwara State, yesterday.
The convicts are Ibrahim Olayiwola, AbdulWaheed Aliyu, Tunde Kareem and Omotayo Isah.
They were charged for robbing petroleum attendants of Rockfield Petroleum filling station, Odota, Ilorin in February 2011 contrary to the provisions of Section 97 of the Penal Code and Section 1 (2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, CAP R11 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Justice S. T. Umar, who presided over the case, said the convicts were guilty of the offences for which they were charged, adding that the lead prosecution counsel, M. A. I. Akande had proved his case beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge said: “There is sufficient evidence to establish that the four convicts conspired among themselves and robbed the petroleum attendants of Rockfield Petroleum filling station, Odota, Ilorin on February 18, 2011 while armed with guns contrary to the provisions of Section 97 of the Penal Code and Section 1 (2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special provisions) Act, CAP R11 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004. The convicts are according sentenced to death by hanging.”
However, counsel to the first suspect, Rapheal Ashaolu argued that Olayiwola was not at the scene of the incident but was arrested as one of the suspects.
