YOLA: A High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State, has sentenced a 39-year-old man, Gambo Goni, to death by hanging or lethal injection after finding him guilty of armed robbery.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Kaynson Lawanson of High Court No. III, Yola, who convicted the defendant on counts one and two, while discharging him on counts three, four and five.
Goni was arraigned on charges of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery. According to the charge, he conspired with four other suspects, who are currently at large, to commit robbery while armed with offensive weapons.
The offence is contrary to Section 6(b) and punishable under Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R.11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The prosecution told the court that on October 4, 2014, the convict and his accomplices stormed several residences in Kofare, Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The victims were identified as Alhaji Lawan Suleiman, Alhaji Musa B. Umaru, Munir M. G., and Alhaji Ahmed Saibaru Shuaibu.
During the attack, the gang reportedly robbed the victims of cash, mobile phones and other valuables while wielding dangerous weapons.
In his ruling, Justice Lawanson held that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction of the defendant.
Pronouncing the sentence, the judge said: I hereby sentence you to death by hanging or by lethal injection until you are confirmed dead. I pray God to have mercy on you.
The case marks another conviction under Nigeria’s Robbery and Firearms Act, which prescribes capital punishment for armed robbery offences.
