A Kwara High Court has sentenced three men to death by hanging for armed robbery and gun possession.
The court also acquitted two women after ruling that the prosecution failed to prove its case.
A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced three men to death by hanging for armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.
The convicts were arraigned before Justice M.O. Folorunso for robbing a resident in the Oko Erin area of Ilorin on March 2, 2024, at about 6 a.m. During the attack, they reportedly used a gun to steal the victim’s Infinix Note 11 smartphone.
While delivering the verdict on Monday, November 3, Justice Folorunso became emotional before pronouncing the sentence, ordering that “the three of you be hanged by the neck until you die.”
In the same judgment, the court discharged and acquitted two women Aisha Haruna and Rabi Umar including a pregnant mother, who were arraigned on a separate four-count charge bordering on illegal possession of firearms, aiding and abetting, kidnapping, and criminal conspiracy.
The women were arrested on June 25, 2025, by the police anti-kidnapping squad in the Babanla community, Ifelodun Local Government Area. According to the prosecution, they were intercepted in a vehicle with other suspects who escaped. An AK-47 rifle and 31 rounds of live ammunition were reportedly recovered.
However, the court ruled that the prosecution, led by Senior State Counsel I.B. Olorundare, failed to establish a clear case against them. Justice Folorunso noted that testimonies from police witnesses were inconsistent, particularly on the type of weapon found.
The judge explained that although one of the defendants admitted a rifle was found in her bag, the police failed to confirm whether it was an AK-47 or AK-49. He held that there was no solid evidence showing the women conspired to commit any crime.
Consequently, the court discharged and acquitted both defendants and directed their counsels to provide them with transport fares to return to their homes in Kaduna and Kanmbi community in Moro Local Government Area.
