An Abeokuta High Court on Thursday sentenced two men to death by hanging for armed robbery and attempted murder, while a third defendant received 21 years imprisonment.

Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora handed down the capital punishment to Wale Adedeji and Akeem Sulaimon after finding them guilty on charges of conspiracy and armed robbery. The third convict, Wahabi Idowu, was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment with hard labour for conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder.

According to court documents, the trio committed the offences on October 29, 2018, at approximately 12:30 am at No. 40 Merroy Road, Safari Junction, Onikolobo area in Abeokuta.

The Prosecuting Counsel, Mrs. Bolariwa Adebowale, told the court that the convicts, armed with knives and cutlasses, broke into the residence of Mr. Rasheed Fajinmi, attempted to kill him, and robbed him of his Ford Jeep with registration number MUS 769FF.

The prosecutor further stated that the convicts also stole the complainant's clothes, shoes, four mobile phones, two ATM cards, jewelry, a 32-inch plasma television, and cash amounting to N64,000. Additionally, they robbed Miss Boluwatife Fajinmi of her iPhone, Nokia phone, and wristwatches.

In his judgment, Justice Ogunfowora stated that the court was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the accused persons committed the offences as charged. He sentenced all three convicts to 14 years each on counts one and two for conspiracy and armed robbery, while Idowu received 21 years on counts four and five for conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder.

The offences contravened sections 21(b) and 1(1)(a)(5) of the Prohibition of Forcible Entry, Occupation of Landed Properties, Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Cultism and Other Anti-Violence and Related Offences Law 2016. The crimes also violated Sections 324 and 320 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.