Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced four men, including twin brothers, to 14 years’ imprisonment each for armed robbery, after they entered into a plea bargain with the Lagos State Government.
The convicts — Taiwo Ojomo, a driver; his twin brother, Kehinde Ojomo, a security guard; Emmanuel Bamidele, a rewire popularly called “DPO”; and Peter Samuel, a cobbler known as “Mogaji” — were handed the jail terms on Wednesday after admitting guilt to amended charges of conspiracy and armed robbery.
The court heard that the quartet, while armed, attacked and dispossessed a motorist, Sodiq Abiodun Ezekiel, of valuables including two mobile phones, an ATM card, N15,000 cash, and his blue 2005 Toyota Sienna.
Prosecutors told the court that the incident occurred late at night on June 5, 2020, around Oshodi Bridge in Lagos, when the victim unknowingly picked up the men who posed as stranded passengers.
Shortly after boarding the vehicle, the convicts reportedly produced a firearm, overpowered the driver, and forced him into the back seat before assaulting and robbing him.
They subsequently made away with the vehicle and other belongings.
The stolen vehicle was, however, recovered later the same day at the Ikeja Shopping Mall and returned to the victim.
During an inspection of the recovered car, the complainant discovered a locally made double-barrel pistol loaded with four cartridges, which was immediately handed over to the police.
The defendants, who were first arraigned in 2020 and initially pleaded not guilty, later changed their plea following an amended charge filed on April 14, 2026, as part of a plea bargain that reduced their sentencing exposure.
Justice Abike-Fadipe, in her ruling, held that the court was satisfied the defendants willingly entered into the agreement and fully understood its implications.
She noted, however, that the court was not bound by the terms of any plea bargain and retained the authority to impose appropriate sentences in line with justice.
The judge thereafter sentenced each of the convicts to 14 years in prison, ordering that the term should commence from the date of their initial remand in custody.