Pastor, five others to die by hanging for robbery

An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, has sentenced a pastor, Adewale Adelu, to death over his involvement in bank robbery which took place in Akure and Idanre in 2011.

The court also sentenced five others – Ikechuckwu Maduagwu, Fayemi Olubusuyi, Ropo Adeleye, Dele Otopka, and Bayo Omotosho to death for their involvement in bank robbery in the state.

They were found guilty of robbing commercial banks in Akure on November 19, 2011 and Idanre on December 8, 2011.

The convicts were arrested by the operatives of the state police command and charged to court.

The convicts were arraigned before the court on four-count charge bothering on conspiracy, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms.

They were later remanded in Olokuta Correctional Centre, Akure, on the order of the court.

The prosecutor, F.K Salami, told the court that the convicts were “armed with AK 47 guns, dynamite, and other weapons at Oyemekun Road, Akure, conspired to attack and robbed a branch of Diamond Bank Plc, after which they went away with a sum of N30 million and different brand of phones, including other valuable property.

“The convicts on December 8, 2011, at 2:00 pm, were also alleged to have robbed First Bank Plc at Yaba Road, Idanre, where they carted away another sum of N4 million.”

According to him, the offences contravene Sections 6b, 1 2a, and b of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Vol. 14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

There were arguments from both the prosecuting and defence counsel at various court proceedings, while witnesses were also invited to the court to testify.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Yemi Fasanmi held that the prosecutor proved his case beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge also said the defendants were unanimous in their confessions and the role each of them played in the robberies.

Justice Fasanmi sentenced “all the defendants to death by hanging in each of the counts.”