Court gavel
Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced two brothers and their female accomplice to death by hanging for attacking and robbing an 87-year-old woman of ₦147,000 and a wristwatch.
The convicts — Shadrack Akpos (30), Lucky Akpos (33), and Adunola Precious (24) — were found guilty of conspiracy and armed robbery after being arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on August 19, 2024.
According to the prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, the crime took place on June 12, 2024, at Ifaki-Ekiti, where the trio, armed with a gun and a wooden plank, robbed Madam Victoria Folorunso of her savings and valuables.
Adeyemo stated that their actions contravened Sections 421 and 321 (2)(b) of the Ekiti State Criminal Laws, 2021.
During the trial, the victim, Madam Folorunso, recounted her terrifying ordeal:
> “I was sleeping around 1:00 a.m. when I suddenly saw two persons in my room. One pointed a gun at my forehead while the other held a plank. They asked for all the money in the house,” she told the court.
She explained that the intruders took ₦100,000 hidden under her bed and another ₦47,000 she had kept in her underwear, along with her wristwatch — a gift from her children.
> “They also took my phone but later returned it. When they threatened to shoot me, I told them I had ₦3 million in my account. They told me to withdraw it the next day and hand it to my househelp, Precious Adunola, to deliver to them,” she added.
The elderly woman testified that the robbers were unmasked and entered without breaking the door, suggesting that her househelp might have granted them access.
Prosecution evidence included the defendants’ written confessions, a search warrant, and the recovered wooden gun. Each defendant also called one witness in their defense through their counsel, Oluwatoyin Marcus and Mitchel Aribisala.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ogunmoye held that Adunola’s involvement was central to the robbery plot:
> “My earlier findings that the 3rd defendant, Adunola Precious, must have opened the door to enable the robbers to enter seamlessly aptly demonstrates her pivotal role in the plan,” the judge stated.
He concluded that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
> “The charge of conspiracy and armed robbery has been proved beyond reasonable doubt against the defendants. They are hereby convicted as charged,” Justice Ogunmoye ruled.
He then pronounced:
> “The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants are to be hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God have mercy on their souls.”
(NAN)
