Six individuals, including a pastor, Adewale Adelu, have been condemned to death by hanging by an Ondo State High Court in Akure for their roles in bank robberies that occurred in Akure and Idanre in 2011.
The convicted persons, namely Ikechuckwu Maduagwu, Fayemi Olubusuyi, Ropo Adeleye, Dele Otopka, and Bayo Omotosho, were found guilty of orchestrating the robberies targeting two commercial banks on November 19 and December 8, 2011, in Akure and Idanre respectively.
Arrested by the state police command, the defendants faced charges related to conspiracy, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms.
During the trial, the prosecuting counsel, F.K Salami, presented evidence detailing how the convicts, armed with AK-47 guns and explosives, executed the heists, looting substantial sums of money and valuable items from the banks.
The court heard testimonies from witnesses and deliberated on arguments from both the prosecution and defense counsel throughout the proceedings.
In delivering the verdict on Tuesday, Justice Yemi Fasanmi affirmed that the prosecution successfully established the guilt of the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt. Noting the unanimity of their confessions and their respective roles in the crimes, Justice Fasanmi sentenced each defendant to death by hanging for each count.
This ruling follows a separate sentencing in Akure, where Gbenga Akintola received a 21-year prison term for his involvement in armed robbery activities. Akintola, apprehended by the Amotekun command and the police in Ondo town in 2021, was convicted on five counts related to conspiracy and armed robbery, after using dangerous weapons to rob three individuals of their money and valuables.
