Ekiti Court Sentence Five to Death by Hanging for Armed Robbery and M8rder
The High Court of Ekiti State, sitting in Ado-Ekiti and presided over by Hon. Justice O.O. Olatawura, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, convicted five individuals of armed robbery and murder. They were sentenced to death by hanging.
The court also sentenced the convicts to 21 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy.
The convicts, Ojo Tope (a.k.a. Tope Dudu), Damilola Christopher (a.k.a. XY), Joshua Adegoke, Aderopo Temitope (a.k.a. Tope Pupa), and Oyedele Oluwatobi, were found guilty of committing the offenses on August 18, 2021, at Agogo Street, Ilupeju Avenue, Odo-Ado, Ado-Ekiti.
During the robbery, they dispossessed victims, Ajiboye Olajide, Lateef Temidayo Busari, and Akeem Isiaka of cash, laptops, mobile phones, and other valuables.
The convicts also brutally murdered the street night guard, identified as Joseph Blessing.
The five were charged with conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder, contrary to Section 516A and Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, and Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Prosecuting the case on behalf of the state, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibare, Esq., presented four witnesses and tendered 13 exhibits.
The defense counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, represented all five defendants, each of whom testified without calling any extra witnesses.
In his judgment, Justice Olatawura held that the prosecution had proven all charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court therefore sentenced all five convicts to death by hanging for armed robbery and murder, and to 21 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy.
