Osun State High Court sitting in Ikirun presided over by Honourable Justice Jide Falola today sentenced Three Armed Robbers to death by hanging.
The Convicts are Nuhu Jimoh, Ndubisi David and Aderibigbe Oluwaseun.
The accused persons were on 29th June, 2017 arraigned on a ten count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, murder, illegal possession of firearms and others contrary to Section 6(b), 1(1) & (2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11 L.F.N, 2004, Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. 34 Laws of Osun State, 2002, and Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11 L.F.N, 2004, respectively.
The prosecution Counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Barrister Biodun Badiora, in proof of the charge called five (5) witnesses and tendered about 30 Exhibits.
The 1st Defendant Nuhu Jimoh testified in his own defence. While 2nd and 3rd defendant Ndubisi David and Adeibigbe OuwaSeun called 3 witnesses each including themselves.
It would be recalled that on 12th February, 2016, at about 3:30 pm, armed men, in a coordinated bank robbery, attacked First Bank, Union Bank and Skye Bank, situated along the same street in Ikirun, Osun State, simultaneously.
The combined team of Policemen from Iragbiji Police Division, Ikirun Police Patrol Team and Special Anti-robbery Squad, responded to distress call(s) from the scene. On getting to the scene, gun duel ensued between the armed robbers and the Policemen, and the armed gang were dislodged making them to flee in different directions.
Investigations revealed that seven members of armed gang were killed by Police at the scene of crime while some others escaped with gunshot injuries.
Almost 32 people lost their lives to the incident but only four Corps were deposited at mortuary; two bank officials and two Policemen on Bank guard duty.
Seven assorted ammunitions including AK-47 guns, Israeli and Russia made brought to the scene by the armed gang and a sum of Seven Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Three Hundred Naira taken from the banks were recovered by the Police.
The Convicts standing trial were arrested in connection with the said Bank robbery which forced all the Banks to close their branches from operation in Ikirun till date.
According to eye witness who is also a Police Officer, S.P Oluwaseyi Adedayo said “Nuhu Jimoh was seen by standing at the junction almost opposite one of the banks holding gun blocking traffic and acting as sentry to cover up for the armed gang”.
Police Officers who arrived at the scene with the Police Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), got Nuhu injured in cross fire.
Another Police Officer attached to one of the Banks Robbed on that day also testified against them in the Court saying he and his co-officers saw Ndubisi hiding his gun on a fridge at the back of one of the banks before he was arrested.
Aderibigbe Seun was arrested inside Akinorun Grammar School which was one of the directions some of the armed gang went to, with fresh injuries on him and could not give any reason for his presence.
Justice Falola said that prosecution Counsel has proof his case beyond the reasonable doubt hereby found them guilty on charge preferred against them
Counsels to the convicts Barrister Sunday Atofarati and Ajibade Omoyajowo pleaded with the Judge to temper justice with mercy.
In his judgement Justice Falola Sentenced them to death by hanging, and forfeited gun recovered from gang to the Nigeria Police also forfeited money recovered to the Osun State Government.
