Ondo-State High Court Sentenced Four To Death

The convicts were, Abdurahman Yinusa, Maliki Sanni, Ajayi Saliu and Mohammed Jimoh.

They were convicted by Justice D.I. Kolawole of the Special Criminal High Court within Olokuta Medium Security Prison yesterday.

The Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the state capital has convicted four members of an armed robbery gang and sentenced them to death by firing squad.

Prior to their arrest in December 2009, the convicts were said to have specialised in hijacking petroleum tanker at gun point.

LEADERSHIP also learnt that the convicts and one other at large had robbed many people several times along Isua/Idoani expressway in Ose local government area of Ondo State.

The prosecution counsel, Mr. John Olowokere, had told the court that the convicts hijacked a DAF truck with registration number number XN 810 ABC ladened with 33,000 litres of petrol on the same road.

Olowokere said, they were later apprehended by the men of the state police command. 

According to him, three of the accused drove the truck away to dispense the content while the remaining two led the driver and the conductor to the bush where they were tied until the following day when they had sold the petrol and disposed the truck.

The convicts stood trial on a Justice D.I. Kolawole of the Special Criminal High Court within Olokuta Medium Security Prison, four-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, murder and illegal possession of fire arms contrary to section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions)Act R11, Laws of Federation 2004.

While delivering his judgement Justice D.I. Kolawole, said the prosecution counsel was able to substantiate the case against the accused persons .

He said the accused persons were guilty of some of the charges and then ordered that they should die by firing squad.