Two Ekiti Men Bag 42 Years Imprisonment For Phone Theft

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced 26 years old Adewale Adesanmi and 24 years old Olumide Arogundade to 21 years imprisonment each for snatching a bag and forcibly collecting wristwatch, phone and N4,000 from a traveller.

The convicts were charged to court and tried on the counts of robbery and conspiracy.

In the court judgement, Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde said, “The prosecution has discharged the evidential burden placed on the defendants in law with respect to the offences of conspiracy and robbery.

“In count one (conspiracy) they are sentenced to seven years imprisonment and 21 years imprisonment each in count two. The sentences are to run concurrently.”

Justice Abodunde, however, ordered that the four years already spent in custody be deducted from the sentences of the convicts.

According to the charge, “Adesanmi and Arogundade on January 4, 2016, at Ajebamidele Junction, Ikere Road, Ado Ekiti did conspire to rob one Damilola Oladosu of his belongings, contrary to sections 516 and 402 (2)(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012”.

In her statement, the victim, Oladosu, said, “I was travelling to Ikere Ekiti around 11:00 p.m when the defendants, who were on a motorcycle, snatched my bag containing clothes, books, certificates and also collected my wristwatch, Infinix phone, wallet and a sum of N4000.

“They ran away, but I was able to get the motorcycle’s registration number. I thereafter reported the matter at Ologede Police Station along Ikere Ekiti Road in Ado Ekiti.”

The prosecutor, Ronke Odetola, called three witnesses and tendered statements of the defendants and victim as exhibits.

The defendants also spoke in their own defence and called no witness.