An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, on Wednesday sentenced a 27-year-old man, Alex Peter, to life imprisonment for armed robbery.
Peter was arraigned on December 29, 2022, on two-count of conspiracy and armed robbery.
He was also sentenced to nine years for conspiracy.
The charge read, “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.”
In his testimony before the court, the victim, a commercial motorcyclist, said the robbery happened at about 8:45pm along NTA Road, Ado Ekiti on that day.
He stated, “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 I saw somebody who 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 of my motorcycle, but it was later found in his house when the police went to search his house.”
The prosecutor, O.S. Akinwumi, called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements, motorcycle particulars, among others, as exhibits.
The defendant, however, spoke in his own defence through his lawyer, Stanley Okonkwo, and he called no witness.
In his judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye found the defendant guilty of the charges and sentenced him accordingly.
The judge said, “It is in evidence that the defendant himself confessed that he was one of the armed robbers.
“I find the defendant guilty as charged. On the whole, the defendant is hereby sentenced to nine years imprisonment for conspiracy and life imprisonment for the offence of armed robbery.”
