Kemisola Oye
JUSTICE Adenike Coker of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja earlier today sentenced Akoh Jude to death for armed robbery.
The judge pronounced the sentence after convicting him as charged by the state government.
The state government had arraigned the defendant on two counts of conspiracy and armed robbery.
Jude was said to have committed the offences with others (now at large) in the Odogunyan Ikorodu area of Lagos State at about 2300 hours on 13 October 2017.
The prosecution said his offence is contrary to the provisions of sections 299, 297 (2)(a) of the Criminal Law Cap C17, Vol 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015.
However, Justice Coker, while delivering judgment, held that armed robbery is a capital offence and that the defendant should be punished accordingly.
The judge said that it was evident that there was a robbery and the defendant was part of the culprits who robbed Mr Gbolahan Alabi of his Tecno Camon Phone with some cash on 13 October 2017.
She upheld the evidence of the victim, who was one of the prosecution witnesses in the matter. The judge said, “The victim gave direct evidence which was potent; whereas, the defendant tried to distract the court during trial by stating the time and where he was arrested instead of when the crime was perpetuated.”
The court held that it was noted in the evidence during trial that the defendant was armed with an axe during the time of the robbery incident. The judge therefore found him guilty as charged.
The defendant’s counsel, Ms Rukayat Owolabiinbher, while pleading for mercy for the defendant, told the court that the defendant is a first-time offender, very young and still useful to society.
She said, “I believe he can be a better person and with the years he has been in custody, he must have learnt his lessons.”
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Mrs B. Ojukutu-Shobande, urged the court to sentence him accordingly, noting that armed robbery is considered a capital offence.
The judge, after listening to pleas from both counsel, sentenced the defendant to 21 years imprisonment on count one which borders on conspiracy to commit robbery.
While sentencing the defendant on count two, the judge said, “Court takes this opportunity to advise counsel to always lay down the options of plea bargain before defendants. The defendant is hereby sentenced to death on count two which borders on armed robbery.”
The judge ordered that “this sentence shall run concurrently, may God have mercy on you.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media