An Osun State High Court sitting in Ikirun and presided over by Justice Jide Falola on Thursday convicted and sentenced three armed robbers to death by hanging.
The convicts are; Nuhu Jimoh, Ndubisi David and Aderibigbe Oluwasenu.
The police in Osun had on June 29, 2017 arraigned the three convicts before the court on a ten-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, murder, illegal possession of firearms among others.
The offence according to the prosecutor contravened Section 6(b), 1(1) & (2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11 L.F.N, 2004, Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. 34 Laws of Osun State, 2002, and Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11 L.F.N, 2004, respectively.
The Prosecution Counsel from the Ministry of Justice Barrister Biodun Badiora, while proofing the charge called five (5) witnesses and tendered about 30 Exhibits.
The 1st Defendant Nuhu Jimoh testified in his own defence. While 2nd and 3rd defendant Ndubisi David and Adeibigbe OuwaSeun called 3 witnesses each including themselves.
The convicts were said to have at about 3:30pm on February 12, 2016, masterminded a coordinated bank robbery, that led to attacks on First Bank, Union Bank and Skye Bank, situated along the same street in Ikirun, Osun State, simultaneously.
The combined team of Policemen from Iragbiji Police Division, Ikirun Police Patrol Team and Special Anti-robbery Squad, responded to distress call(s) from the scene.
The policemen and the robbers engaged in gun duel for hours and after they were being overpowered, they took to their heels. Investigations revealed that seven members of armed gang were killed by Police at the scene of crime while some others escaped with gunshots injuries.
Almost thirty two (32) peoples lost their lives to the incident but only four Corps were deposited at mortuary two bank official and two Policemen on Bank guard duty.
Seven assorted ammunitions such as AK-47 gun Israeli, Russia made brought to the scene by the armed gang and a cash sum of #7,486,300.00k (Seven Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Three Hundred Naira) taken from the banks were recovered by the Police.
The robbery attack forced all banks situated in the town to suspend Operation.
Police Officer who arrived at the scene with the Police Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), and in the exchange of gun fire the with Nuhu got him injured.
Another Police Officer attached to one of Bank Robbed on that day also testified against them in the Court said he and his co-officer saw Ndubisi putting the gun he was carrying on a fridge at the back of one of the banks before he was arrested.
Aderibigbe Seun was arrested inside Akinorun Grammar School which was one of the directions some of the armed gang went to, with fresh injuries on him. He could not give any reason for his presence.
Justice Falola said that prosecution Counsel has proof his case beyond the reasonable doubt hereby found them guilty on charge preferred against them
Counsels to the convicts Barrister Sunday Atofarati and Ajibade Omoyajowo pleaded with the Judge to temper justice with mercy.
In his judgement Justice Falola Sentenced them to death by hanging, and forfeited gun recovered from gang to the Nigeria Police also forfeited money recovered to the Osun State Government. (Citymirrow)
