A High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria and presided over by Justice Ayokunle Rotimi-Balogun, on Wednesday sentenced a 33-year-old man, Ibrahim Toyin, to death by hanging for robbing a woman of her hand bag at gunpoint.
Ibrahim, who was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery had pleaded not guilty to the offence.
At the trial, the Prosecution Counsel, Mrs Margaret Sodeke, senior state counsel, had told the court that the convict committed the offence on Aug. 25, 2012, at about 10 p.m. at Power line junction, Sabo area of Sagamu.
She said that the convict and others still at large, conspired and robbed Titilayo Eniola of her hand bag containing valuables.
Sodeke explained that while the complainant was coming from her shop at around 10 pm, the convict with others now at large stopped her and pointed a locally made pistol on her.
She explained that the convict collected and carted away with the complainant’s hand bag containing N15,000 cash, ATM card and other valuables.
The prosecution counsel said that the convict was arrested by members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and on his arrest, he was found with a locally made gun and two cartridges.
Sodeke said that the offences contravened Section 6(b) and 1(2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap Rll, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Delivering her judgment, Justice Ayokunle Rotimi-Balogun, said that all the evidence tendered had convinced the court beyond reasonable doubt that the convict committed the offence as charged.
She subsequently sentenced Ibrahim to death by hanging.
Nigeria is indeed a nightmare! While it is absolutely evil to rob and worst still, with any form of violence; one wonders where this judicial system that closes its eyes to Trillions of Naira stashed away by politicians in the various arms of government and at all levels in the country, and the impunity of dastardly cowards, villains and never do wells who have continued to kill and maim Nigerians in the aegis of Fulani Herdsmen, only opening its eyes to hammer death penalty on the hungry thief in the street. What an irony, what a people?