Two policemen sentence to death over robbery

A High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital has sentenced two policemen; Henry Ubogu and Emmanuel Moses attached to Ondo State Police Command to death by hanging for armed robbery and conspiracy.

The two accused who had been dismissed from service before their trial were said to be specialist in turning their weaponry to rob unsuspecting motorists of their cars while operating illegal checkpoints.

The two accused and one other, Ige Onukun were said to be snatching cars at gun point while Onukun used to assist them in driving away snatched cars.

They were however accused to have conspired and robbed one Pastor Ayodele Joseph of his Toyota Camry with reg no LA 46 AAA at Olopejojo junction Ioka road in the 7th of April around 8p.m.

The three accused however escaped this count charge as the court held that the Prosecution failed to establish the link between the snatched car and the accused that it was actually the Pastor’s car they snatched even though they confessed to snatching car at that area around the time.

The court held that proof in criminal trial is that of proof beyond reasonable doubt and that car may be that of another person and there is no room for guessing or doubt in criminal trial as all doubt must be resolved in favour of an accused person.

The three accused were however unlucky in the charge relating to the snatching of another Toyota Camry belonging to one Victor Ojo, a lawyer and politician whose car was snatched at APP area on 26th April 2010 while also pretending to be on stop and search duty.

The reckless manner they were driving after the robbery operation gave them away which led the Patrol team to suspect them and gave a hot pursuit which eventually led to their hitting another vehicle and they were arrested and detained at A division and the incident and vehicle were linked to the signals of Ijapo Police station where a case of armed robbery has earlier been reported that night by Mr Ojo Victor.

The precision was so accurate in this count that the judge had no option than to hold that the case of the prosecution has been proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Though the accused confessed to the crime but Ojo failed to turn up at the court after recovering his snatched car.

In his ruling, Justice David Kolawole sentenced the trio to death by hanging for conspiracy and robbery.