Man sentenced to death for robbery

An Akure High Court in Ondo State has sentenced a man, Femi Aseye, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

Aseye was convicted of robbing two persons-Adegoke Adeniran and Rasheed Abiola.

The convict was said to have stolen their phones and a wrist watch in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area in August 2012.

It was learnt that during the trial, Aseye allegedly assaulted Abiola, who testified against him.

Abiola was said to have been arrested in Akungba-Akoko during a riot, few days after he testified against Aseye.

He was remanded in the same cell as the convict at Olokuta Medium Prison in Akure.

Abiola told the court of how he complained to prison officers about the danger of putting him in the same cell as the convict but he was ignored.

He also spoke of how Asaye and his cohorts tortured him and he reported the matter to the prison officials but they took no action on the matter.

It was gathered that some senior officials of the Olokuta Prison were summoned by the court but they denied the allegation, saying Abiola did not raise any objection concerning the cell.

But the prosecutor, John Olowokere, proved to the court that some prison officials perverted justice.

He told the court that prison officials-Dr. Adetula (psychologist) and Mrs. Florence Alukuluka-, defence counsel Dele Kuboye and the convict gave false affidavit that Abiola has withdrawn from the matter.

Following the prosecution’s ability to prove the case of robbery, Justice Olanrewaju Akeredolu sentenced Aseye to death by hanging.

The judge also recommended Kuboye, Adetula and Mrs. Alukuluka for sanction by appropriate authorities for their involvement in the procurement of a false affidavit.

The “affidavit” was said to have been masterminded and signed by Adetula’s office.

Referring Kuboye to the disciplinary committee of the Nigeria Bar Association, the judge said his conduct was not only unethical but criminal.