DEATH BY HANGING FOR THREE ROBBERS OVER N50,000 THEFT.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court yesterday okayed death by hanging for three convicts for robbing a woman of N50,000 at gun point.

The convicts who are to face the hangman’s noose are Kayode Babarinde, Akeem Haruna and Yusuf Nurudeen. The apex court entered the find yesterday after upholding the concurrent judgment of both the Kwara State High Court and the Ilorin Division of the Court of Appeal.

The three convicts who fought the battle of their life to the Supreme Court were charged before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery contrary to section 97 of the Penal Code and Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap. R 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

They were alleged to have robbed one Mrs. Ruth Alabi of the sum of N50,000 while armed with a locally made pistol on 18/8/2007 at Baba Oloya Street, Jebba. Upon arraignment, they took turn to enter a plea of not guilty to each of the counts. The prosecution consequently called three witnesses and tendered exhibits while the appellants each testified on their own behalf and called no witness.

At the conclusion of trial, the High Court on 26/9/09 found each of the accused persons guilty as charged on each of the counts. They were sentenced to two years imprisonment on the count of conspiracy and death by hanging on the count of armed robbery. However, they were dissatisfied with their conviction and sentence and appealed to the Court of Appeal in Ilorin. The Court of Appeal also dismissed their appeal