Justice Kudirat Jose of
an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, yesterday sentenced a 25-year-old male hairdresser, Izunna
Ajaere, to death for stealing a laptop and a mobile phone at gunpoint.
Jose convicted Ajaere
after finding him guilty on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.
While delivering her
judgement, Jose said that the prosecution had proved the charge of conspiracy
to commit armed robbery and armed robbery beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge, however,
noted that the evidence of Mr Uchenna Ukah, the victim of the crime, was a
crucial element to Ajaere’s conviction.
She said: “The evidence
of the prosecution witness proved that the defendant was one of the armed
robbers, therefore, all the ingredients of the crime of armed robbery have been
shown.
“The defendant is
hereby sentenced to death for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and sentenced
to death for armed robbery.
“He is to be hanged by
the neck till he is dead, may the Lord have mercy on his soul.”
Meanwhile, according to
the court, Ukah in his testimony emphatically stated the series of events
regarding the armed robbery operation.
However, during the
trial, the prosecution led by Mrs. A. B. Awosika told the court that the
convict committed the offences at 9.30p.m. on June 22, 2012 at No. 12, Vincent
Eze Street, Ajao Estate, Lagos.
Awosika said that the
offences violated Sections 295(2) and 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State
2011.
She said: “The convict
alongside an accomplice had accosted Ukah at gunpoint outside his flat. Ukah
led them to his flat where they stole a laptop, a modem and a blackberry mobile
phone.
“Ajaere and his
accomplice, after the robbery, locked the complainant in his apartment with the
intent to also rob his neighbours.
“The complainant
managed to get out of his apartment to raise the alarm leading to Ajaere and
his accomplice being apprehended.
“Ukah’s laptop and
modem were recovered from the duo, however, his blackberry mobile phone was
never recovered.”
On the contrary, Ajaere,
while testifying in his defence during the trial, denied robbing the
complainant, he claimed he went to Ajao Estate for hairdressing work and was
arrested by policemen during a raid.
According to the
convict, he was falsely charged with conspiracy and armed robbery by officials
of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
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