Court sentences two men to death for armed robbery

Justice S.P Gang of the Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on Monday sentenced two men, Dayabu Ahmad and Umar Aliyu, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

He found the men guilty of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery.

The judge held that going by the findings of the court, the convicts armed themselves with dangerous weapons, blocked the Barkin Ladi/Mangu road and robbed commuters of their belongings.

He said: “This sentence is mandatory, as the law states that any person convicted of armed robbery shall be punished with death by hanging.

“The sentence of this court upon you is that you, Dayabu Ahmad and Umar Aliyu, will be hanged until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul.”

The judge also handed down three years imprisonment on the convicts for criminal conspiracy.

The two men were arraigned on February 19, 2019.

The police charged them with criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, contrary to Sections 6(b) and 1 (1&2) of the Fire Arms Act punishable with death upon conviction.

The prosecution counsel told the court that the convicts on January 26, 2019, on the Barkin Ladi/Mangu Road armed with weapons and dispossessed travelers of their belongings.

The convicts in their confessional statement to the police admitted to committing the crime, blamed the devil for their actions, adding that they were “broke.”

READ ALSO: Fire razes INEC offices in Imo, Anambra

The items stolen by the convicts include 1kg of meat, a gallon of groundnut oil, a packet of maggi cubes, watermelon, and N100, 000 cash.

Counsel to the accused, Mr. Thomas Ochigbo, said he would get a copy of the judgment, study it and look for possible grounds of appeal against the death sentence imposed on the convicts.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now