Court Sentences Two To Death By Hanging In Lagos

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere has sentenced two men, identified as Williams Udoh and Ubong Isaiah, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

It was reported that the incident happened on August 2, 2015, at the Shepherd Estate, Daramola Street, Ijegun, and No. 8 Ologun Ijegun Street, Ijegun, Lagos and were arraigned in court on July 13, 2017, on amended five counts bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, and rape.

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During the trial, the prosecutor, Titilayo Shitta-Bey, confirmed the incident to the court. 

She added that the convicts, while armed with guns and other weapons like sledgehammer and machetes, robbed one Ijeoma Orjiakor and Michael Orjiakor of their phones, jewelry, a laptop and N40,000.

She added that the convict also unlawfully had sexual intercourse with a 39-year-old married woman.

Titilayo noted that the convicts and their accomplices also went to No 8, Ologun Ijegun Street to rob one Esther Adeniran of a mobile telephone and N600,000.

Testifying to the allegation, the rape victim confirmed that, Udoh took her eight-year-old daughter to the other gang members outside to rape but the child was rejected.

She added that the convict hit her husband’s head with a gun and tied him up before raping her.

Delivering her judgment on Thursday during a virtual court sitting, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye found the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

She said, “The prosecution has successfully established that a series of robberies took place on August 2, 2015, and that the robbers were armed with guns and other weapons.

“The failure of the state to tender the weapons does not water down the fact that the weapons were used. I am satisfied with the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, together with the graphic testimony of the PW1; there is no room for any mistaken identity; the defendants were those who participated in the robberies.

“Also, I find the testimony of the PW3 credible and detailed. Penetration, however, slight, constitutes an offense of rape. The PW3 was able to establish that the first defendant raped her. She said the defendants were not masked, so she was able to identify them. The testimony of the PW3 was also corroborated by the PW2, which is cogent to establish that the PW3 was indeed raped.

“Having established the offenses of rape and armed robbery, the prosecution has indeed proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt. I, therefore, find you, Williams Udoh and Ubong Isaiah, guilty as charged.

“You shall be hung by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on your souls; and the first defendant is also sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment for the offense of rape. This is the sentence of the court.”