An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced four men to a combined 50 years in prison for robbery, assault, and related offences.
The convicts—Olamide Olorunsola (49), Afeez Kadiri (28), Ogunwole Abiodun (40), and Bello Tajudeen (36)—were found guilty of attacking a commercial driver and stealing his belongings in Ifaki Ekiti on June 26, 2021.
Olorunsola and Kadiri each received 10-year sentences, while Abiodun and Tajudeen were sentenced to 15 years each.
The defendants were arraigned on a six-count charge, including conspiracy to commit felony, armed robbery, attempted murder, burglary, and receiving stolen property.
The prosecution said the men were armed with machetes, axes, and broken bottles during the attack.
According to the victim, identified as Segun, the men ambushed him with weapons, inflicted multiple injuries, and stole his bag containing N11,000, ATM cards, an identity card, and later burgled his home, taking electronics and personal items.
Segun was treated at the Police Cottage Hospital and later referred to Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) due to the severity of his injuries.
The prosecution, led by Adeola Arogundade, presented three witnesses and various exhibits including medical reports, photographs, and the defendants’ statements. The defence, represented by Legal Aid Council’s Adeyinka Opaleke, called two witnesses.
In delivering judgment, Justice Adeniyi Familoni ruled that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, convicting all four defendants.
“The defendants showed remorse and were sober throughout the trial.
The court will be lenient,” the judge said.
Each convict was sentenced to five years on two counts, with Abiodun and Tajudeen receiving an additional five years on another count.
The sentences are to run concurrently from the date of their remand.