By BANNERNEWS Reporter,, Akure
An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced three men — Uche Onu, Ekene Okorie and Celestine Eze — to death by hanging after finding them guilty of armed robbery.
The convicts were arraigned on charges of conspiracy and armed robbery, offences punishable under the Armed Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution told the court that the defendants carried out a robbery operation at Gasland Nigeria Limited in Akure on April 25, 2024, at about 3 a.m., carting away gas cylinders and a vehicle belonging to the company.
During the incident, the robbers reportedly overpowered the security guard on duty and struck him on the head with an iron bar before escaping with the stolen items.
Investigations later led to the arrest of the first and second defendants in Benin City, where they were allegedly found in possession of the stolen vehicle and could not provide a satisfactory explanation of how it was acquired.
The prosecution further stated that information obtained from the suspects led to the arrest of the third defendant, Celestine Eze, who was accused of masterminding the operation.
The second defendant was also said to have assisted detectives in recovering the empty gas cylinders in Lagos State, although efforts to apprehend other members of the gang proved unsuccessful.
In their defence, the three defendants denied involvement in the crime. Uche Onu claimed he was arrested in Onitsha while working as a scavenger, while Ekene Okorie said he was apprehended near a workshop in Anambra State. Celestine Eze told the court he was arrested in Onitsha, where he worked as an electrician.
Delivering judgment, Justice William Olamide held that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt that an armed robbery occurred and that the perpetrators were armed during the operation.
The judge ruled that the evidence before the court clearly showed that the defendants acted in concert and shared a common intention to commit the crime, thereby proving the charges against them.
Justice Olamide consequently convicted the three men and sentenced them to seven years imprisonment on the charge of conspiracy. He also sentenced them to death by hanging for the offence of armed robbery.
