The convicts were brought to court on December 30, 2022, facing a four-count charge that included conspiracy and armed robbery.
The charge read, “On August 16, 2022, along Iluomoba Road, Aisegba Ekiti, they conspired to commit a felony, namely armed robbery.
“At the time of the robbery, they were armed with locally made guns, knives, and cutlasses, and they robbed Daramola Christiana and Ajayi Alaba of items such as phones, a power bank, creams, drugs, ATM cards, and cash amounting to N105,000, among other belongings.
“These offences are contrary to Sections 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” the charge stated.
During her testimony, one of the victims, a trader, recounted that four armed men attacked them at a barricaded point at Aisegba Ekiti along Omuo–Ado Ekiti Road.
“They took our phones, power bank, other valuables, and N105,000 in cash before fleeing into the bush. A sympathizer rescued me, but the driver returned to Omuo to formally report the incident to the police,” she said.
The prosecutor, Ibironke Odetola, presented six witnesses and submitted evidence, including charms, phones, camouflage underwear, a hammer, three hoods, fake Dollar notes, and cutlasses. The defendants, represented by their lawyer, Adeyinka Opaleke, did not call any witnesses for their defense.
In the judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Blessing Ajileye stated that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that an armed robbery occurred on August 16, 2022, and found the two defendants guilty.
The judge declared, “Consequently, the sentence of this court upon Benjamin Joseph and Stephen Orban is that they are hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God have mercy on your souls.”
