An Ekiti High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, sentenced two brothers and their female friend to death by hanging for robbing an 87-year-old woman of N147,000 and a watch.

The convicts, Shadrack Apos (30), Lucky Akpos (33), and Adunola Precious (24), were arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on Aug. 19, 2024, on two counts of conspiracy and armed robbery.

The prosecution counsel, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, told the court that the convicts committed the offences on June 12, 2024, at Ifaki Ekiti, while armed with a gun and wooden plank to rob Madam Victoria Folorunso of N147,000 and a wristwatch.

According to him, the offences were contrary to Sections 421 and 321 (2) (b) of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.

In her testimony during the trial, Folorunso said, “I was sleeping around 1:00a.m., when I suddenly saw two persons in my room.

“One pointed a gun at my forehead while the second person held a plank; they asked me to bring all the money I had in the house. They took the N100,000 I had under my bed and another N47,000 I kept in my underwear.

“They also took my wristwatch, presented to me by my children. They also took my phone, but they retuned it to me.

“When they threatened to shoot me, I told them I have N3 million in my account. They instructed me to withdraw the money the following day and give to Precious Adunola, my househelp, to deliver it to them.

“They were not masked; they did not break the door and were relating freely with my househelp. They warned me not to tell anybody or else they would kidnap and kill me. They were calling and threatening me thereafter, for taking too long to send the money.

“I later informed my children about it and they told the police,” she concluded.

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo called two witnesses and tendered defendant’s statements, search warrant, wooden gun among others as exhibits.

While the defendants, represented by their lawyers, Oluwatoyin Marcus and Mitchel Aribisala, called one witness each.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Ogunmoye said, “my earlier findings that the 3rd defendant, Adunola Precious must have opened the door to enable the robbers have seamless entry into the house she was sharing with the victim aptly demonstrated her own pivotal role in the plan to rob the victim.

“From the believable evidence before the court therefore, it is clear that the prosecution had been able to establish that the defendants planned and agreed to rob the victim on June 12, 2024.

“The charge of conspiracy and armed robbery has therefore been proved beyond reasonable doubt against the defendants and therefore they are found guilty and convicted as charged by this court.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendant are to be hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God have mercy on their souls,” the Judge pronounced. (The Nation)