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Tag: hanging

  • 2 men to die by hanging for armed robbery in Ekiti

    2 men to die by hanging for armed robbery in Ekiti

    The Ekiti High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday sentenced two men to death by hanging for armed robbery.

    The defendants, Olusegun Folorunso, 53, and Ajayi Dele, 51, were arraigned before Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi on a three-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

    During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Kunle-Shina Adeyemi, told the court that the defendants committed the crime on Aug. 24, 2022, along Erio-Ekiti.

    He said the defendants, armed with guns and cutlasses, robbed one Ajogbeje Ayodeji of his ash-coloured Hyundai Sonata, phone, and laptop.

    “On the same day, they also robbed Oluwasegun Oke of his phone,”he told the court.

    He said the charge contravened Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Testifying before the court, Ayodeji said: “Around 4 a.m., my two brothers and I were travelling from Erio-Ekiti to Ido-Ekiti when we saw a barricade on the road.

    “As we tried to figure out what was happening, the defendants, armed with guns and cutlasses, appeared and pointed their guns at us, ordering us to lie face down.

    “They took my car key, laptop, and our phones before driving away in my car.

    “I reported the case at the Aramoko Police Station and later at the Rapid Response Squad in Ado-Ekiti.

    “A few days later, I received a call that the armed robbers had been arrested in Ibadan.”

    To prove the case, the prosecution called five witnesses and presented several exhibits, including:the defendants’ statements,

    The other exhibits were one locally made single-barrel gun, one locally made double-barrel gun, and six live cartridges.

    The defence counsels, Mr Adeyinka Opaleke and Mr Ezekiel Agunbiade, did not call any witnesses but pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi found them guilty of the charge.

    “In this case, I uphold the prosecution’s argument that there is sufficient evidence to infer a common intention between the defendants, warranting their conviction for conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

    “On count one (conspiracy), the defendants are each sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

    “On count two (armed robbery), the defendants are to be hanged by the neck until they are dead.

    “May God have mercy on your souls,” Justice Ogunyemi ruled.

  • 2 to die by hanging for kidnapping in Taraba

    2 to die by hanging for kidnapping in Taraba

    The Chief Judge of Taraba, Justice Joel Agya, on Friday sentenced Yusufa Adamu and Adamu Abdullahi to death by hanging for kidnapping Balkisu Kambe and Maryam Musa in Gashaka Local Government Area.

    Agya, while delivering the judgement in Jalingo, said the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

    The Judge said that the duo committed the crime in 2019.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Samson Gimba, had told the court that Musa was kidnapped on Sept 2, 2019, at Serti while Kambe was kidnapped at Angwan America in Baruwa on Sept. 29, 2019.

    He also found them guilty of criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms and sentenced each to 10 years without an option of fine.

    The Judge said that the sentence on criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms would take effect from 2019 when they were arrested and detained.

    Besides, the Judge said the convicts made confessional statements about the crime and collected ransom.

    He noted that one of the victims, Kambe, identified the defendants as member of the gang that abducted her in her house when they could not find her husband at Angwan America in Baruwa, on Sept. 29, 2019.

    Kambe said they unmasked themselves when they took her to the bush for two days before her husband sent them N1 million ransom.

    “Based on Section 3, Paragraph 8 of the Kidnapping and Abduction Law of Taraba 2019, I hereby sentence you to death by hanging. May God have mercy on your souls.

    “You, however, have the right to apply to the Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy for the sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment, especially since no life was lost in the process of kidnapping,” the Judge said.

    Gimba, in his reaction, hailed the judgement as “sound and commendable”.

    Mr Mahanar Puki, Counsel to the defendants, had pleaded for mercy when the guilty verdict was pronounced before the Judge passed the sentence.

    Puki had told the court that the convicts were first-time offenders and had shown remorse throughout the trial and should be shown mercy.

  • Court sentences pastor to death by hanging for killing choir mistress, others

    Court sentences pastor to death by hanging for killing choir mistress, others

    A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has sentenced the General Overseer of the Alter of Solution and Healing Assembly in Oyigbo Local Council, Pastor Chidiebere Okoroafor to death by hanging for killing three people, including his choir mistress, he allegedly impregnated.

    In his judgment, Justice S. O. Benson said the evidence and confessional statement by Pastor Okoroafor proved that he murdered his choir mistress, Orlunma Nwagba, her friend, Chigozie Ezenwa alongside her daughter, Cresabel Ezenwa.

    Justice Benson held that the prosecution proved the case of murder against Okoroafor and ordered that the pastor should die by hanging.

    The judge also ruled that the convict should be hanged on his neck until he dies or be injected with lethal injection,which will also kill him faster.

    Rivers State Police Command had on December 17, 2018, arrested Pastor Okoroafor, following an alarm raised by the husband of the late Chigozie Ezenwa over the killing of the three victims on December 11, 2018, in two different locations in Oyigbo Local Council.

    Speaking to newsmen outside the courtroom, the prosecuting counsel from the state’s Ministry of Justice, Precious Ordu and a representative of International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Antonia Osademe, expressed happiness over the judgment which they described as justice well served.

    Ordu said: “Today, judgment has been given to both the state, the complainant and the convict. It will serve as a deterrent to all persons that intend to commit the same offence because it is a justice for all. We are happy today that judgment was given in favour of the state.”

    Also, husband to one of the deceased, Ezenwa, said: “I am happy. Last time I saw my wife in a dream and she walked across me with kids and I asked her where she was going and she answered that she was going to rest and I thank God today that judgment has been given.”

    Meanwhile, Innocent Ekwu, who the is counsel to the convict, said the court erred in its judgment, by failing to clear doubts raised by the defence before arriving at the verdict.

     

  • Killers of UNILORIN student sentenced to death by hanging

    Killers of UNILORIN student sentenced to death by hanging

    After one and half year legal tussle, an Ilorin High Court on Tuesday sentenced killers of Olajide Blessing Omowumi, a 300 level student of the University of Ilorin, to death by hanging.

    The deceased, who would had turned 26 years this year, was raped and murdered in a merciless manner by the assailants.

    The trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Yusuf, who handed down the judgment, convicted the 1st, 2nd and 3rd suspects; Abdulazeez Ismail, Ajala Oluwatimileyin and Oyeyemi Omogbolahan, for the offences of culpable homicide and armed robbery, ordering that they should die by hanging.

    “I direct you Abdulazeez Ismail, Ajala Oluwatimileyin and Oyeyemi Omogbolahan, should be hanged by the neck until you’re pronounced dead,” the judge pronounced.

    In the 165 pages judgment, which was delivered for four hours, the court also sentenced the 4th and 5th suspects to three years imprisonment for the offence of theft.

    Earlier, the court has discharged and acquitted the 6th, 7th and 8th suspects; Abdullateef Abdulrahman, Daud Aderayo and Akande Oladoja on the basis that they were not found guilty of any charges against them.

    According to the judgment, the lifeless body of the deceased was found in the afternoon time of the day with bruises all over her body, her hands tied to the back, and a towel covering her face.

    The judge added that the conventional statement which could be relied upon on the basis of law, revealed that the deceased struggled with the killers until she was pushed and fell, while the 1st and 3rd convicts held her down for the 2nd convict to perpetrate the henieus crime of rape.

    He said the deceased was raped till death on June 2, 2021, at her guardian’s residence in Tanke area of Ilorin, and a piece of paper was dropped on her chest with message containing: ‘No forgiveness for Unilorin student’.

    According to the judgment, Ismail, Oluwatimileyin and Omogbolahan conspired among themselves to rob the deceased of her Samsung Galaxy A2 Core handset, one black Acer Aspire laptop andone Samsung drive, among several other items.

    The killers were tried on 11-count charge bordering on murder, rape, armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms, among others.

    Reacting to the judgment, the Prosecution Counsel and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Salman Jawondo, told newsmen after the court session that justice had caught up with the culprits.

    “The first, second and third defendants who are the main culprits were found guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to murder.

    “They were accordingly sentenced to death. That’s maximum. There’s no discretion for the court to exercise by virtue of provision of the Armed Robbery Act, it’s death.

    “So also by virtue of Section 221 of the Penal Code, it’s death sentence for culpable homicide. So, they were accordingly sentenced to death.

    “Although, the third defendant, who was also convicted of rape was sentenced to life imprisonment, but it’s neither here nor there. When somebody is condemned, the life imprisonment does not ameliorate anything,” he said.

    Jawondo further explained that: “With respect to the fourth and fifth defendants, they were found guilty of conspiracy to steal and stealing of money in the bank account of the deceased.

    “You know, after killing her, they took her ATM card, Sim card and her phone. They changed her password, through instrumentality of the fourth and fifth defendants, who are experts in computer manipulation, collected some money through transfer, totalling about N149,000.

    “They were convicted for conspiracy and stealing/theft. They were accordingly sentenced to three years imprisonment to run concurrently. For conspiracy, one year, for main offence three years, commencing from the date of their arrest.”

    He added that: “They’ve spent about one and half years already in custody. The other three: sixth, seventh and eighth escaped by whiskers. They are very lucky. If you look at their involvement, they only assisted to dispose of property stolen.

    “The irony of it all is that all those involved are very young men of 19, 23, etc. It’s quite unfortunate and that tells that we have to work on our future in this country,” he said.

  • Witchcraft: Court sentences man to death by hanging for killing daughters

    Witchcraft: Court sentences man to death by hanging for killing daughters

    A High Court sitting in Akamkpa, Cross River has sentenced Ayanime Udo to death by hanging for killing his twin daughters on allegation of being witches.

    Delivering judgment on the case with suit number HK/6C/2018, Justice Agnes Onyebueke said; “Udo’s act is satanic, demonic, and beyond human comprehension.’’

    She held that the defendant had willfully and gruesomely murdered his 11 year-old twin, Mfoniso Anyanime and Emediong Anyanime in 2017 after dubbing them witches.

    The defendant, who is in his 50s, could not defend his allegation of witchcraft against the female children when cross examined and had given his 11-year-old girls a malt drink mixed with acid from his motorcycle.

    One died at the spot on Jan. 10, 2017, while the second crawled to the road where a Good Samaritan picked and took her to the hospital but she died the next day.

    According to a Child Rights Activist, Mr James Ibor, who’s Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BCRI) facilitated the prosecution of the accused, the case was first reported in February, 2017.

    Ibor said after it was reported, the convict was arrested by the police after due investigation was carried out.

    “The Police ensured that necessary medical examinations and autopsy were done on the deceased children, which aided the judgment.

    “This judgment is a great victory to the victims, Mfoniso Anyanime, Emediong Anyanime in particular, and the Government of Cross River,’’ he said.

    It would be recalled that the killing of twins was predominant in the Southern part of Cross River which includes Akamkpa before the intervention of the Scottish Missionary, Mary Slessor.

  • Court sentences man to death by hanging for culpable homicide

    Court sentences man to death by hanging for culpable homicide

    A High Court in Bauchi on Thursday, sentenced a man, Ahmadu Ali to death by hanging for culpable homicide.

    The State charged Ali alongside Sa’idu Adamu and Saminu Yahaya, with conspiracy and culpable homicide.

    Delivering Judgment, Justice Muazu said:”the prosecution has successfully established the offence of culpable homicide punishable with death against Ali, I hereby convict you for committing the offence of culpable homicide punishable with death.

    “Based on the proven facts in this case, Adamu and Yahaya are hereby convicted of committing the offence of criminal assault on the deceased contrary to section 265 of the Penal Code law of Bauchi state.

    “Having regards to the plea of tempering justice with mercy to the accused persons made by their counsel, I hereby make the following sentence.

    “That you Ali, are hereby sentenced to death by hanging and that you shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead.

    “That Adamu and Yahaya, are hereby sentenced to one calendar year term of imprisonment without option of fine,” he said.

    Earlier, the Lead Prosecution Counsel, Ali Shehu told the court that the convicts on March 30, 2015 beat up Mubarak Shehu and stabbed him with a knife over mere argument.

    He added that the victim sustained serious injuries and was referred to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano where he died on March 31, 2015.

    The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Section 221 of the Penal Code Law.

    In his submission, the Defence Counsel, Mr Y. I. Kangere, prayed the judge to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convicts.

    Commenting on the judgment, the second Defence Counsel, Mr Usman Salami, said that if the convicts and their relatives decide to appeal the decision of the court, he will gladly go for it.(

  • Five to die by hanging for kidnap, murder in Rivers

    Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced five persons to death by hanging for kidnapping and murdering Mr. Anthony Okoro.

    The five defendants out of seven persons in suit number PHC/324/2017, are Oluchi Charles, Miracle Anumuna, Ifeanyi Simon, Koko Basset and Uchenna Stanley Amaechi.

    They were convicted on the 10 charges preferred against them by the Inspector-General of Police bordering on conspiracy, stealing, armed robbery, kidnapping and murder.

    However, the fifth and sixth defendants, Chukwudi Etete and Anthony Ugwu, were discharged and acquitted by the court.

    It was gathered that the convicts had on May 26, 2016, attacked the home of Anthony Okoro in Woji area of Port Harcourt, shot him and carried his body away.

    The convicts were also said to have stolen a Range Rover jeep, Kia Optimal car, television sets, an Infinix phone and other valuables belonging to the victim.

    The judge, Justice George Omereji, in his verdict yesterday, held that the prosecution proved its case that the first to fourth and seventh defendants were as guilty as charged. Omereji, in discharging and acquitting the fifth and sixth defendants, stated that the prosecution could not prove that they had knowledge of the crime, rather they unknowingly bought phones belonging to the victim.

    The judge also held that the prosecution proved the case of conspiracy against the convicts.

    “It was proven that the convicts had met at Genesis area of Woji in Port Harcourt and planned the kidnap of Okoro and the death of the victim was caused by the convicts,” the judge said.

    He regretted that Okoro was shot on his arm and taken away alongside his cars and other valuables by the suspects. The judge based his verdict on Section 410 of the Administration of Criminal Justice 2011.

    He said the convicts should be held by the rope till they are confirmed dead.

    The prosecution counsel, I. Ubulom, described it as justice done. He said the verdict would serve as deterrent to others involved in criminal activities.

  • Ondo pastor sentenced to death by hanging for murder

    Ondo pastor sentenced to death by hanging for murder

    An Ondo State based Pastor, Kolawole Samson, has been sentenced to death by hanging for killing one Ayo Olaniyi at a village near Okeigbo area of the state.

    The late Olaniyi was said to have in March 2016, gone to hunt frogs alongside three others at a fish pond owned by Pastor Kolawole.

    Pastor Kolawole was sentenced to death by an Ondo state High Court sitting in Akure presided over by Justice Ademola Bola.

    Kolawole was found guilty of inflicting injury on the deceased’s head with a cutlass.

    The deceased later died to at a hospital he was admitted.

    Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Olusegun Akeredolu and Mrs Omotola Ologun, argued that the offences contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Laws of Ondo State (2006).

    Mother of the deceased was one of the witnesses called to testify during trial

    Pastor Kolawole however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Justice Bola however uled that all evidence before the court showed that Pastor Kolawole was guilty of killing Olaniyi.

    The judge held that Samson Kolawole should die by hanging.

  • Man to die by hanging for killing Uber driver

    Man to die by hanging for killing Uber driver

    The High Court of the Federal High Court in Nyanya, Abuja on Thursday sentenced one Obinna Echianu to death for killing an Uber driver identified as Edwin Ali in Abuja on December 26, 2016.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Peter Kekemeke convicted 42-year-old Echianu for armed robbery and culpable homicide.

    But the judge discharged and acquitted Echanu’s co-accused, Everly Nnorom, 27, for lack of evidence.

    The police had instituted five counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms and culpable homicide against the two men.

    However, convicting Echianu of the offences on Thursday, the judge held that the police proved counts of armed robbery and culpable homicide against him beyond reasonable doubt against him.

    “The first defendant is therefore sentenced to death by hanging on each of the counts,” Justice Kekemeke held.

    The police had alleged that Echianu and Nnorom, who was acquitted on Thursday, conspired to rob the deceased Edward Ali beside Goza pedestrian bridge, Airport Road, Abuja, at about 7pm on December 16, 2016.

    The prosecution alleged that the two men allegedly armed with a revolver pistol and 33 live ammunition shot and killed Ali.

    But while the court believed Nnorom’s defence ending in his acquittal, it dismissed Echianu’s defence and was convicted and sentenced to death on Thursday.

  • Lekan Shonde to die by hanging for beating wife to death

    Lekan Shonde to die by hanging for beating wife to death

    An Ikeja High Court has sentenced a 51-year-old dockworker, Lekan Shonde, to death by hanging for beating his 39-year-old wife, Ronke, to death at their Egbeda, Lagos residence.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Josephine Oyefeso found Lekan guilty of murder in a two and a half hours judgment on Friday which was also the International Women’s Day.

    “This is the sentence of the court upon you: That you should be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy upon you,” Oyefeso said.

    The judge held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt in the light of overwhelming evidence against Lekan.

    “The violence used by the defendant was in excess of a reasonable man.

    “The defendant was very economical with the truth, stating in his evidence before the court that he only slapped his wife when he overheard her on a phone praising the sexual prowess of a lover.

    “This does not match the degree of injuries indicated by the autopsy report,” she said.

    Oyefeso said that the report of a pathologist, Dr Shokunle Shoyemi indicated that there were old and fresh injuries Ronke, a banker.

    She said that bruises on the deceased’s cheeks, blood collection in the brain, brain swelling and other multiple injuries could not have been self-inflicted.

    The judge held that the sentence was in line with Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, on hearing the sentence, Lekan appeared perplexed as he alighted from the dock.

    He was immediately told to sit down for a while in the courtroom before he was whisked away by a prison official.

    Mr I.B. Mohammed, who held brief for Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), Lekan’s counsel, had in his allocutus (plea for mercy) prayed the judge to temper justice with mercy.

    “My Lord, we want to plead with the court to, while administering justice in this case, see reasons in this allocutus to temper justice with mercy.

    “There are two children in the marriage. I know as a matter of fact that these two children have passed through worst moments of their lives; agonies that are immeasurable.

    “I know, if these two children have any control over this proceeding, it will be that their father should not be prosecuted at all. But since it was not so, their wish is that their father should be sentenced in very liberal terms.

    “The defendant has no criminal record, he has developed failing health since his detention.

    “This defendant hardly sees very well, he sees faintly. My Lord, he is hypertensive, the authority of the prison can confirm this,” Mohammed said.

    NAN reports that Lekan, who was arraigned on Oct. 24, 2017, on a charge of murder, had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    During the trial, the sister of the deceased, the investigating police officer, the pathologist and the nanny to the children of the deceased, all testified for the prosecution while Lekan was the sole witness for the defence.

    The pathologist testified on Sept. 25, 2018, that Ronke suffered from severe brain injuries which led to her death.

    In his evidence on Oct. 24, 2018, exactly a year after his arraignment, Lekan denied killing his wife.

    He said he only slapped her during an argument over her alleged extramarital affair.

    The prosecution led by Mr Y. G. Oshoala, had said that Lekan committed the murder at 8.30p.m. on May 5, 2016, at their residence at No. 3, Tiemo Close, Egbeda, Lagos.

    The dockworker was said to have locked their residence and fled after Ronke’s death, leaving her corpse in the living room.

    The crime scene was discovered by neighbours, who heard the cries of their two children struggling to “wake up” their lifeless mother.

    The story of Ronke’s death went viral on social media and Lekan was said to have surrendered to the relevant authorities five days later, after an extensive hunt for him.