Delta Court sentences two to death for armed robbery, murder

A Delta State High Court in Asaba, presided over by Justice Onome Marshall-Umukoro, has sentenced two persons to death for armed robbery and murder. 

The two defendants, Abdulrasheed Mohammed (m) and Aliyu Bawa (m), were alleged to have committed the offences on 29th May 2020 at Oni Edozien Street, off Ezenei Avenue Asaba.

The prosecution, led by Mrs Esther Azomani of the Asaba Zonal Office of the State Ministry of Justice, through its witnesses, told the court that on a fateful day, the two defendants, alongside two others now at large, while riding in a tricycle (keke), robbed one Ifeanyi Okafor of his mobile handsets. 

In the process of the armed robbery, the victim was stabbed in his chest, and he later died. 

The 1st and 2nd defendants then made away with the phones, which they later sold to the 3rd Defendant, Daniel Joseph for N6,000.

The police tracked the phones to the 3rd defendant, who led them to arrest the 1st and 2nd defendants. 

In his judgement, the Court held that the prosecution proved the case against the 1st and 2nd defendants beyond reasonable doubt. 

The court found them guilty of the offences as charged and convicted them accordingly. 

The court held that the case against the 3rd defendant was not proved beyond reasonable doubt. 

He was accordingly discharged and acquitted of the offence of receiving stolen property.

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