An Ondo State High Court has sentenced two men to death for armed robbery offences.
The convicts, David Friday and Innocent Victor, disguised as security officers while terrorizing residents.
An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced two men, David Friday and Innocent Victor, to death by hanging after finding them guilty of armed robbery and related offences.
The duo had been arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, and impersonating security personnel. Their actions were found to contravene Section 6 (b) and Section 1 (2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as well as Section 109 of the Criminal Code of Ondo State, 2006.
During the trial, multiple witnesses gave accounts of how the convicts terrorised residents of Idanre in January 2021 while disguising as members of the armed forces.
One witness, Akinmodun Akinleye, told the court that the men stopped him at Ojalade Junction while he was returning from his farm at about 1 a.m. He said one wore a police T-shirt and the other full military camouflage, both armed with jack knives. They allegedly robbed him of ₦6,000, forced him to buy 30 litres of fuel for their motorcycle, and later discovered his Itel phone had been stolen.
Another witness, Olowogbadegun Lanre, a security guard, said he encountered the men the same night while on duty. He narrated how the convicts stopped an 18-seater bus, assaulted the driver with knives and fists, and stole ₦5,000.
A third witness, Adeyeye Sesan, a commercial driver, testified that he was beaten and threatened with a pistol before being dispossessed of ₦125,000, which represented his daily earnings. He also suffered injuries from a dagger during the attack.
The prosecution, led by Inspector Ilesanmi Samuel, told the court that investigations confirmed that David Friday was a serving policeman attached to Olofin Police Station, Idanre, while Innocent Victor falsely claimed to be a soldier. Both later confessed to the crimes.
Delivering judgment, Justice W.R. Olamide ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced the two men to death by hanging.
