Court sentences evangelist and five others to death by hanging for armed robbery

Evangelist Adewale Adelu and five others have been sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery. 

They were found guilty of robbing two commercial banks in Akure and Idanre on November 19 and December 8, 2011, in Akure and Idanre. 

Other members of the gang sentenced to death were Ikechuckwu Maduagwu, Fayemi Olubusuyi, Ropo Adeleye, Dele Otopka, and Bayo Omotosho. 

The convicts had robbed the Diamond Bank Plc, Akure where they reportedly carted away N30 million and different brands of phones, including other valuable property. They also robbed the First Bank Plc at Yaba Road, Idanre, where they took away N4 million. 

The convicts were arraigned on July 14, 2022, on four counts charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms.

They were remanded to the Olokuta Correctional Centre after they pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecuting  Counsel, F.K Salami told the court that the convicts also attacked a church around Adaba FM, Ilara-Mokin at 12:45 pm, and robbed two pastors, Jeremiah Adanlawo and D.O Ajayi of their cars with number plates JU522EKY and JV322EKY respectively. 

One of the prosecution witnesses said the robbers gained entrance into the banking hall while armed with guns.

“We suddenly heard sporadic gunshots in the bank premises. And they thereafter, blasted the entrance of the bank to gain access to the banking hall. 

“One of the robbers who was masked, asked me to open the box and he packed away all the money in the box, including naira and dollars. And in the process, a policeman identified as Olowoyelu was shot dead,” the witness said. 

Presiding Judge, Justice Yemi Fasanmi, who handed down the death sentence, said the prosecution proved the offence of armed robbery against all the convicts beyond reasonable doubt. 

Justice Fasanmi noted that the confessional statements of each of the defendants corroborated with the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, including the evidence of their arrest and how they were arrested. He held that the offence of conspiracy was proven beyond doubt as the robbery was coordinated via phone call by the second defendant, Evangelist Adelu who resides in Akure. 

Justice Fasanmi found the defendants guilty and sentenced them to death by hanging in each of the counts.