Student, two others to die for robbery

                           


Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of Ikeja High Court, yesterday, sentenced three persons, Wasiu Arepo, an aluminum products manufacturer; Oluwaseun Idowu, a driver, and Ganiyu Hassan, a student and commercial motorcycle rider, to death by hanging. 


The convict were found guilty on a four-count charge of armed robbery and murder contrary to Section 402 Subsection 2(a) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State, 2011, and Section 319 subsection 1(a) of Criminal Code Law of Lagos State, 2011. According to the prosecution, the convicts committed the offence on February 5, 2011 at Aleke village, Imota at 2a.m. 

The convicts were said to have stormed the house of one Mrs Adijatu Bakare and her husband, Abubakar, and demanded the money Abubakar withdrew from bank a day before. During the process one of the accused persons, Arepo, shot Abubakar in the chest after which they ransacked the house and carted away N15,000 and other valuables.

 He reportedly died on his way to the hospital. Meanwhile, it was reported that two hours after the incident, the convicts were caught in a nearby community by the vigilante group in the area after the wife of the victim reported the matter at Imota Police Station and was able to identify one of the convicts.

 During trial, the convicts had denied involvement in the incident, claiming they were at home on the night. Justice Akapo, while delivering his judgment, said the prosecution had proved the case beyond doubt that the convicts committed the crime.