An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced three men to death by hanging for their involvement in a violent armed robbery at a private hospital in 2022.
Justice Lekan Ogunmoye delivered the verdict on Tuesday, finding Lasisi Afeez (33), Ilesanmi Seun (32), and Ajewole Peter (53) guilty on three counts of conspiracy and armed robbery.
The court heard that on March 29, 2022, the defendants, armed with guns and cutlasses, invaded Maxwell Hospital on Nova Road in Ado Ekiti. They robbed Dr. Ojo Dada Emmanuel of his Toyota Corolla car, wedding ring, ATM cards, two laptop computers, ₦70,000 in cash, and other personal belongings. The same night, they also robbed another individual, Balogun Ahmed, of his phones and ₦2,200.
During the trial, Dr. Emmanuel testified that the defendants, whose faces were uncovered, assaulted him, a patient, and a relative at gunpoint before stealing his belongings and vehicle, valued at ₦3 million.
The prosecution, led by Julius Ajibare, presented three witnesses and submitted evidence including firearms, live cartridges, phones, and vehicle documents. The defendants did not call any witnesses in their defense.
In his ruling, Justice Ogunmoye stated that the prosecution had successfully proved the charges of conspiracy and armed robbery beyond reasonable doubt.
“I am in agreement with the prosecution that it is clear from the defendants’ confessional statements that they planned to rob Maxwell Hospital,” Justice Ogunmoye said.
He sentenced each defendant to death by hanging, concluding with: “May God Almighty have mercy upon your souls.” The court acquitted the defendants on a fourth count relating to unlawful possession of firearms.
This ruling follows another death sentence issued by the same court in November against two individuals convicted of armed robbery in Ekiti.
Under Nigerian law, particularly Section 312 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State (2021), armed robbery carries a mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
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