The Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced three men to death by hanging after finding them guilty of armed robbery and conspiracy. The convicts, identified as Uche Onu, Ekene Okorie and Celestine Eze, were convicted for their involvement in a violent robbery attack carried out at Gasland Nigeria Limited in Akure.
Delivering judgment, Justice William Olamide held that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt that the three defendants acted together with a common intention to commit the crime. He ruled that the evidence presented before the court clearly showed that the accused persons were armed and actively participated in the robbery operation.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred in the early hours of April 25, 2024, at about 3:00 a.m. at the premises of Gasland Nigeria Limited. During the attack, the robbers reportedly overpowered the security guard on duty and struck him on the head with an iron rod, leaving him seriously injured. They subsequently made away with a vehicle and a gas cylinder belonging to the company.
Investigations by the police later led to the arrest of Uche Onu and Ekene Okorie in Benin City, Edo State. The two suspects were allegedly found in possession of the stolen vehicle and were unable to provide satisfactory explanations regarding its ownership. Their arrest reportedly provided investigators with clues that led to the apprehension of the third defendant, Celestine Eze, whom authorities identified as the mastermind of the operation.
Further investigations revealed that the second defendant, Ekene Okorie, assisted detectives in tracing the stolen gas cylinder to Lagos State, where it was recovered. However, efforts by security agencies to track down other members of the gang were unsuccessful.
Throughout the trial, the three defendants maintained their innocence. Uche Onu claimed that he was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State, while working as a scavenger collecting scrap metals. Ekene Okorie insisted that he was arrested near a workshop in Anambra, while Celestine Eze told the court that he was picked up by security operatives in Onitsha, where he worked as an electrician.
Despite their denials, Justice Olamide ruled that the prosecution had successfully proved all the essential ingredients required under the Armed Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act. He held that the evidence established that the accused persons acted in concert and shared a common intention to carry out the robbery.
The court consequently convicted the three men on charges brought under Sections 1(2)(a) and 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. They were each sentenced to seven years imprisonment for conspiracy and handed the death penalty by hanging for the offence of armed robbery.
The judgment adds to a series of recent convictions handed down by courts across Nigeria in cases involving violent crimes, terrorism and kidnapping. Legal experts note that while the death sentence remains one of the country’s most severe punishments, the convicts retain the constitutional right to challenge the verdict before higher courts.
Security analysts have described the judgment as a reflection of the judiciary’s resolve to combat armed robbery and violent criminal activities, stressing that strong collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the courts remains essential to ensuring justice and strengthening public confidence in the criminal justice system.
