2 sentenced to death for robbery in Ekiti

The Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced two persons to death for armed robbery. They also got life imprisonment and 14 years imprisonment for murder and attempted rape. The accused, Fakorede Olawale (36) and Tunji Olaitan (39), were arraigned on a three-count charge bothering on attempted murder, attempted rape and armed robbery. […]

The Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced two persons to death for armed robbery.

They also got life imprisonment and 14 years imprisonment for murder and attempted rape.

The accused, Fakorede Olawale (36) and Tunji Olaitan (39), were arraigned on a three-count charge bothering on attempted murder, attempted rape and armed robbery.

The police said the defendants on November 24, 2015, at the Adehun area, beside Petim Sawmill on Iworoko Road, Ado-Ekiti, attempted rob, rape and murder4 one Are Titilope Ayeni.

The prosecutor, Gbemiga Adaramola, told court that the victim, a 53-year-old lecturer, reported that, “I was about to sleep around 8pm when my generator suddenly stopped working. I went to check what happened to it and in the process the defendants emerged from my compound and attacked me with a cutlass.

“While shouting, I was defending my head and face, they dragged me inside my room and attempted to rape me but they got distracted when my phone rang. Thereafter, they tried to dump me inside my well but were not successful.

“When I was shouting, my neighbours called the police who came on time with a patrol van. One of the robbers, Fakorede Olawale, escaped with my N15,000 cash, my gold valued at $350, my phone, ATM cards and other valuables, but he was later arrested.’’

The prosecutor called four witnesses and tendered the victim’s photographs, statements of the victim, recovered items, among others, as exhibits.

The defendants spoke through their counsel, Olayinka Opaleke, Coordinator of the state’s Legal Aid Council, and Rotimi Agbede.

The defence counsels did not, however, call witnesses, but pleaded the court to temper justice with mercy.

Justice Adeniyi Familoni, in his ruling, sentenced the two defendants to death for armed robbery.