In a ruling by Justice Ayo Oyebiyi of the Osun State High Court in Osogbo, Wasiu Afolayan (36) and Kola Adeyemi (34) have been sentenced to death by hanging for their involvement in conspiracy and armed robbery.
The court determined that Afolayan and Adeyemi were serial robbers, responsible for numerous robbery incidents in the Osogbo metropolis. They were arraigned on charges of conspiracy, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of arms, as stipulated under Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R.11, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Despite pleading not guilty, evidence presented during the trial by prosecutor Mr. Bewaji Adeniji from the Ministry of Justice established their guilt. The court heard how on December 7, 2018, near C.A.C No. 16, Oke-Onitea Area, Osogbo, Afolayan and Adeyemi carried out a robbery, with Afolayan’s subsequent arrest leading to Adeyemi’s apprehension in Ikire town.
Prior to this incident, the same duo was involved in a robbery on November 26, 2018, at No. 3, Oduola Street, Igbona Area, Osogbo, resulting in the fatal shooting of one Olaniyi Adewale.
During the trial, Adeniji presented six witnesses and numerous exhibits, including extra-judicial statements made by the defendants at both Divisional Police Headquarters and the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osun Command Headquarters.
Defense counsel Mr. Ayodele Olaniyan pleaded for leniency, citing his clients’ lack of previous convictions. However, Justice Oyebiyi, in delivering the judgement, declared that the prosecution had sufficiently proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
Consequently, Afolayan and Adeyemi were found guilty of armed robbery and sentenced to death by hanging.
