Three individuals have been sentenced to death by hanging by an Ekiti High Court in Ado-Ekiti for their involvement in armed robbery.

The convicted individuals, Bidemi Babalola, Oluwaseun Akinwale, and Sola Oyebanji, were found guilty of conspiracy, armed robbery, possession of firearms, receiving stolen properties, and membership in a secret cult.

The court acquitted one defendant, Akinwale Oluwaseun, while sentencing the other three to death. The offences were committed on October 3, 2018, and involved the robbery of personal belongings and cash.

Delivering his judgment, the trial judge said that said, “in all, the sole issue for determination is resolved in part in favour of the prosecution, I accordingly order as follows;

“The first defendant Babalola Bidemi, though a first offender, was the one that encouraged the offence of armed robbery, in that he knew that the items received by him were products of armed robbery, his sentence should serve as deterrence.

“He is accordingly sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

“The second defendant, Akinwale Oluwaseun, is discharged and acquitted of all the charges while the 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants, Oyebanji Sola, Jimoh Azeez and Ogunlade Babatunde are found guilty as charged.

“They are hereby sentenced to death.”