Hairdresser sentenced to death for stealing laptop, phone

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).