Lagos Court Sentences Robber to 38 Years Jail Term

A Lagos State High Court on Monday convicted and sentenced an armed robber, Adamu Francis, to 38 years imprisonment for robbing a lady, Ajoke Illiasu. The robber took possession of the victim’s necklace, wristwatch, bank ATM cards, cash sum of N50,000, and stripped her naked while armed with a gun and iron rod.

Justice Oyindamola Ogala, who handed down the verdict, found Francis guilty of three counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, and assault preferred against him by the Lagos State Government. The convict, who was arraigned on charge No ID/13695c/2020, was sentenced to Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre, where he would serve his term. The prosecution had told the court that Francis and another (now at large), on May 12, 2020, at about 6.15am at Ogudu Bus Stop, Ojota, Lagos State, conspired to commit robbery.

According to the prosecution, the offences committed contravened Sections 299, 297, and 174 (a) of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015.Justice Ogala, in her judgment, held that the standard of proof was beyond every reasonable doubt and stated that the prosecution was able to discharge the burden of proof placed on it.

The judge, who confirmed that weapons were used by the convict (Francis) to carry out the robbery attack, held that there was no principle of law establishing that the prosecution should tender weapons used to execute the robbery attack.

She said, “The convict (Francis) was arrested in the same vehicle in which the victim was robbed of her belongings. “The circumstantial evidence against the convict is strong, and he is accordingly found guilty of the offence as charged. “Adamu Francis, you are hereby sentenced to a term of 14 years imprisonment for robbery on the first count. You are hereby sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for armed robbery on the second count and three years jail term for the offence of assault on count three.” The judge further held that the jail term be run concurrently from the first day he was remanded on June 29, 2020.

Source: Punch