Convicted thief sentenced to death in Ado Ekiti for stealing seven bottles of beer and cigarettes

AN Ado Ekiti high court has sentenced a convicted thief to death by hanging for stealing seven bottles of beer and one packet of Rothmans cigarettes after judging him to be guilty of armed robbery.

 

Sitting in Ado Ekiti, the court, presided over by Justice Cornelius Akintayo, found Raji Babatunde guilty of armed robbery for being in possession of axe and cutlass at the scene of the robbery. In his ruling, the judge held that the prosecution had proved the case against Mr Babatunde beyond reasonable doubt.

 

He, however, discharged and acquitted the second accused person, Adegboye Sunday, for lack of sufficient evidence against him. According to the charge sheet, Mr Babatunde was a member of a four-man robbery gang that terrorised a house at 15, Odundun Street, Okesa and 5C, Dallimore Street both in Ado-Ekiti on June 30, 2014

 

During the raid, one Alhaji Mudsahiru Bello was robbed of two Nokia phones and one Techno phone. In addition, the robbers also robbed one Oladele Femi of one bottle of Star lager beer, six bottles of trophy lager beer and one packet of Rothmans cigarettes.

 

Unfortunately for the gang, however, during the course of the robbery, some policemen on patrol arrived at the scene. Three members of the gang escaped but Mr Babatunde was arrested while trying to escape with the proceeds of the crime.

 

In his statement to the police, Mr Babatunde mentioned the name of Mr Sunday, which led to his arrest. They first appeared before the high court on February 1, 2016 when the charges were read to them but they both pleaded not guilty.

Share