An Ado-Ekiti High Court recently sentenced to death...

An Ado-Ekiti High Court recently sentenced to death three persons by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery. The condemned men were Tayo Adeosun, Ryiola Diran and Johnson Oni, who were described as hardened criminals. The prosecuting state counsel, Mr. Herbert Alaba, told the court that the three men conspired and violently robbed several people at Erio-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area of the state on March 16, 2002. But a pastor of one of the Pentecostal churches, Gabriel Olajide, was discharged and acquitted for want of evidence. Delivering judgement, Justice Monisola Abodunde held that the prosecution had proved the case against them beyond reasonable doubt, noting that the menace of armed robbery in the society was on the increase and called for serious concern. "There are sufficient facts to substantiate the case of the prosecution in this instance. I am of the view that the prosecution has proved its case against the accused persons".