By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
A 19-year-old boy, Ademola Oluwaseun, was, on Monday, sentenced to life imprisonment by Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital for attempted armed robbery.
The prosecutor, Dolapo Oyewole, had, during the trial, told the court that the boy committed the offence on May 6, 2017 in the Idolofin area of Ado Ekiti, adding that he was armed with a gun and robbed one Arowolo Suleiman of his Bajaj motorcycle with registration number (OGUN) LAR 223 VC.
The prosecutor called three witnesses and also tendered the motorcycle as exhibit, adding that the offence contravened Section 402(2) of the Criminal, CAP. C16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012. The victim of the robbery, while narrating his ordeal, told the court he conveyed the boy and one other, now at large, from Oke-Ila to Idolofin in Ado-Ekiti about 6:30 a.m.
The victim added that on getting there, one of them pointed a gun at him and commanded him to lay face down inside a drainage, explaining that, while the suspects were attempting to escape with the robbed motorcycle, he (victim) stood up and pushed them down from his motorcycle. Also, Suleiman said his shout for help attracted neighbours who chased the suspects leading to the arrest of Oluwaseun while his accomplice escaped from the scene, and still at large.
The judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, while delivering his judgement, pointed out that, although Oluwaseun was charged with the offence of armed robbery, evidence before the court only established the offence of attempted armed robbery against him. Ogunmoye noted that there was no evidence that the accused (Oluwaseun) succeeded in stealing anything from his victim when he was caught, adding, however, that the sole issue for determination had been resolved partly in favour of the prosecution. Meanwhile, the judge declared that he reiterated that the defendant is convicted for the offence of attempted armed robbery which he said attracted life imprisonment, hence, sentenced him accordingly.
“I reiterate that the defendant is convicted for the offence of attempted armed robbery. He is sentenced to life imprisonment,” the judge declared.
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