The convicts were arrested on the eve of Christmas in 2007 for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, contrary to Sections 5(b) and 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.
In his testimony, the victim of the offence, Jonathan Usenge, told the court that five armed men came to his house, attacked and robbed him of some valuable items on that day.
He stated that the robbers collected his Nokia 1600 phone valued N12,700.00, two torch lights valued N350.00 and a sum of N16,500.
He said the convicts were armed with guns and a hacksaw, and that the clothes they wore on the day of the robbery, his stolen phone and the hacksaw were recovered from them during police investigation.
The prosecution called three witnesses while the accused persons testified for themselves and also called three witnesses.
In his submission, counsel to the convicts, Mr Cletus Ujah, argued that the prosecuting counsel had not proved the allegation against his clients beyond reasonable doubt.
Ujah insisted that the victim was inconsistent in his testimony, arguing that the prosecution's evidence could not be said to be overwhelming to nail his clients.
He further argued that the prosecution failed to tender the hacksaw claimed to have been recovered from his clients before the court which, he said, amounted to withholding evidence.
But the prosecuting counsel, Mr Obande Idikwu, argued that the prosecution had made a case to warrant the conviction of the accused persons.
Idikwu submitted that from the evidence, it could be deduced that there was an agreement to commit an illegal act, which was pursued to a logical conclusion.
Delivering judgment, Igoche held that the prosecution had proved its case against the convicts and found them guilty as charged.
In an allocutus, Ujah pleaded for leniency for the accused persons, pointing out that they were each the only sons of their parents and young boys with a promising future ahead of them, noting that they had no records of previous conviction and were looking very remorseful, and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
But the judge said the punishment prescribed for offenders under Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms Act was death by either hanging or firing squad, pointing out that it was subject to the governor's discretion. (NAN)
Source: www.ipaidabribenaija.co
Sigh...ow com d likes of Bode George n Ibru who stole billions get vip treatment? Death by firing squad is xtreme!
ReplyDeleteits hard to feel sympathy for Robbers blc they have killed so many people . Sometimes they rob, rape and then still kill just for the fun of it . I heard of a family that was robbered, wife was rapped by 3 men and then they still took their little girl in exchange for ransome money. This man inhumanity to man is very sad and sickening. That been said, Robbers and the Justice system, No Human should have the power to take another life..End of story. let them sit in jail instead.
ReplyDeleteShould someone die because of Nokia 1600 phone ?? . The value of that phone now is 25pound for new one
Well said!!!
DeleteWell said Lagos-is-my-home. Very hard to feel sorry for any human being that can pick up a gun and a chain saw to rob and attack a fellow human.
ReplyDeleteNigeria, Nigeria, Nigeria, Nigeria, I pray they include stealing, bribing and corruption in our Universities as a Course to study so we can read during JAMB examination so everyone can join the fraud in this Country because i see no reason why fraudulent politicians are celebrated daily given titles by Obas and a common steal is sentence to dead, well its all good one day i just said it again one day every Nigerian will have access to a gun and lets see how the rich will get attention by good cars and houses or by Burial announcement. People who are stealing and making unborn kids to face poverty are the good Nigerians and the common thief trying to steal so he or she can live to the next day
ReplyDeletemadam theresa d judge, pray that d day ur children steal phones and torch lights they would be killed, have u ppl lost ur sense of reasoning? with youths, the leaders of tomorrow, COWARDESS, go and kill all the politicians and ur corrupt self, why couldnt u give them some years, or at most life imprisonments? u guys have no sanctity for life, God must repay u all
ReplyDeleteWtf, death by firing quad ahan
Delete@Sue...you are nothing but an illiterate. If you have ever been robbed, then you won't be talking like this. The law is clear on this. So if you don't understand, let someone explain to you. Don't just open your dirty mouth cos you must comment.
Deleteshould we start listing the politicians , bankers and co that were convicted for stealing in Nigeria . Lets compare their verdict to these two students.
ReplyDelete** God will judge us all **
Is this missing half of her brain or what? A robbery that no one was hurt or killed. Yes it was a home invasion and armed robbery, but death by firing squady is too damn extreme. Its people like her that will sentence the Bank Ole's and Bode George's and Ibru's of this world to 6months in prison for robbing millions blind.
ReplyDeleteBankers politicians n co didn't steal with a gun and knife. This judge maybe found out her husband has a mistress n was in a bad mood that day so, decided to vent on this lads. Why couldn't she give them time to serve? Is there any evidence that they killed people? Why firing squad? Barbaric ! No sense of reasoning.
ReplyDeleteU pple shld stop giving urselfs head ache. Dat why ders sometin called appeal. D̸̸̮̮̃ defence shld simply file 4 an appeal, ders every chance dat they'l win. D̸̸̮̮̃ judge must b on cocain 2 sentence dem 2 death, wat happened 2 servin even 20yrs jail term? Smh 4 dis country.
DeleteYea dey shud be punisd sure but death by firin squad iz way out ØF it! Mayb sum yrs in prison wud ve solvd d issue! Mtchewwww to bad govt
ReplyDeletehmmmmmmm since 2007 what if they hv repented?2007 is too long they would hv 4gv them naaa?tufiakwa well atleast they did nt nacked them or inflict pains and shame on them b4 killing them,i wil neve 4get those lovenly innocent aluu boys i love u boys rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteWhether anyone was killed or not, whether 5naira or 5million naira was stolen, the penalty for ARMED robbery is death. Using the arm doesn't matter. So long as you had it with you, it's a capital offence. Too bad they met a hard judge. They can appeal and keep appealing and pray for divine intervention. Sentiments aside, if they didn't use the guns during this particular operation, they might have used it during the next. And the next might have been all of you that are here raining curses on the judge.
ReplyDeleteThank you, my brother. Well said.
DeleteWhat a ridiculous amount to sentence them to death by any means. Nigerians and their hypocrisy. The Nigerian judiciary is just faulty. The same ibori that was discharged and acquitted in naija is now eating beans in the UK. These boys should appeal irregardless.
ReplyDeleteIrregardless is not a word.
DeleteNigeria and Arab countries are still the only ones doing the death sentence, it should be abolished
ReplyDeleteWhat an incensitive Judge. At this time d whole world is condemning d Aluu 4 killing is when she decides to sentence 2 students to death for mere wristwatch thief.
ReplyDeleteAnon 13 October, 2012 07:54. You are the daft one. I am sure u are related to the judge. Sue is right,let her go and deal with the politicians first. You don't have to carry a gun before taking a life, every contract awarded to effect repairs on roads that are never carried out which results in the loss of innumerable lives yearly requires the same punishment. Rubbish
ReplyDeleteSo Nigerians re now using souls media to be a voice or robbers? You call a judge insensitive for sentencing robber? You guys are hopeless. Continue weeping for criminals. But remember that r ever robber caught, thousands are still at large, robbing, roping and killing innocent people
ReplyDeleteWell said!
DeleteWell, the law is the law. Armed robbery is a capital offence. Doesn't matter if you killed someone in the process. As long as you took a weapon, regardless of what it is - knife, gun, stick - you'll be charged with armed robbery. So really there's not much one can say in this case. Those who feel strongly about the punishment can wish to channel their anger towards campaigning for the eradication of capital punishment or seek the increase in punishment for those who loot the treasury to capital punishment. As long as the law was complied with in this sentencing, I have no disagreements with it. Unfortunate for the convicts and their families but we all should strive to live aboard board and not commit crimes. "If you can do the crime, you sure can do the time"
ReplyDelete@ Prof X u r so on point! D law is very clear in dis matter. Murder n armed robbery r termed capital offences. In d case of armed robbery, d amount stolen is irrelevant, wat matters is whether arms were used 2 commit d offence or nt. Even if no1 ws hurt in d process. Dat is d law. D likes of Bode Goerge n co stole/embezzled moni but didn't do dat wit arms so dat offence isn't regarded as a capital 1. N 4 all cases whr d death penalty has been given, appeal is automatic.
ReplyDelete