NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ROBBERY

A High Court in Abeokuta sentenced Kola Akanji, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
Akanji, whose address was not given, was found guilty of counts of conspiracy and armed robbery.
In his judgment, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, said the court was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence.
“According to Section 1(2) (a&b) and 6(b) of the Act, the punishment is death and the court has no discretion in the matter.
“Having found that the accused person is guilty as charged in both counts I have no choice but impose on him the capital sentence as prescribed by the Law.
“You shall be hung by your neck until you are dead,’’ he said.
He held that the evidence presented by the prosecution was tenable and, therefore, sentenced the accused to death by hanging
The convict, had been standing trial since Dec 2010, when he was arrested and charged for robbing one Fashola Moses of his motorcycle, phone and money.
The accused was said to have inflicted grievous harm on Moses with a bottle during the robbery, which took place in Onigbedu area in Yewa North local government, Ogun State.
The prosecutor, Mrs O.S. Ogunbode, had during the trial told the court that the convict committed the offence on Dec. 16, 2010 at about 7:00 p.m. at Onigbedu.