A 22-year old student of Delta State Polytechnic, Eguono
Akpeghughu, has been sentenced to death by hanging by a Warri High Court
in southern Nigeria.
PMNEWS reports that Akpeghughu was
found guilty on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery
and armed robbery after he was alleged to have robbed his victim of
cash and other valuables worth over N30,000.
According to the
police prosecutor, the offences are punishable under section 1(2)(a) of
the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R 11 Volume 14,
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The court held that the
prosecution proved essential ingredients of armed robbery against the
accused beyond all reasonable doubt from the totality of evidence
presented before the court.
The court further held that
prosecution was able to pin the accused to the scene of crime from the
evidence of Prosecution Witness 1, the testimony of a witness who
assisted in arresting the accused as well of his confessional statement
and other exhibits recovered from him including the wrist watch of the
victim which were all tendered and admitted in evidence by the court.
It
was gathered from the floor of the court that the convict with others
now at large, on 4 January 2008, had attacked George Ogbemudia at Bazunu
junction, Warri and robbed him of his wrist watch worth N1,200, a
necklace worth N7,000, Sony Ericsson handset worth N26,000 and N2,000
cash.
It was informed that the accused was arrested with the help
of a passerby when the victim summoned up courage and grabbed the
accused as he attempted to escape with his loot and raised alarm while
his other gang members escaped.
After thorough investigation by
the police, it was discovered that the accused, suspected to be a member
of an armed gang terrorising the neighbourhood especially pedestrians,
lives very close to the scene of crime.
He was later handed over to the police where he voluntarily made a confessional statement admitting to the crime.
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