Man sentenced to death for robbery in Abeokuta

A High Court in Abeokuta yesterday sentenced a man, Kola Akanji, to death by hanging for armed robbery.Akanji, whose address was not given, was found guilty of a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.
Justice Abiodun Akinyemi said the court was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence.

The Nation reports that, the convict had been on trial since December 2010, when he was arrested and charged for robbing Fashola Moses of his motorcycle, phone and money.

The accused was said to have injured Moses with a bottle during the robbery, which took place in Onigbedu area in Yewa North Local Government.'

The prosecutor, Mrs O.S. Ogunbode, told the court that the convict committed the offence on December 16, 2010 at 7pm at Onigbedu.
According to her, the convict and two others boarded the victim’s motorcycle at Ijaka Isale in Yewa North and told him they were going to Ishaga Olowu.

“On their way, the accused switched off the ignition. When the complainant came down to check what the problem was, the accused hit him on his head with a bottle.
“Immediately, the convict and two others took the motorcycle, phone, money and rode away. Unfortunately for them, they had an accident on their way, they abandoned the motorcycle and fled into the bush.
“The complaint recovered and pursued them with the help of another cyclist. They found his motorcycle on the scene of the accident.
“They went to the nearest village where the accident occurred and narrated what happened to the villagers.
“The villagers followed them to search the bush and caught the accused, while his accomplice escaped,” she said.