By Monday Osayande, Asaba
A Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba on Wednesday sentenced a 30-year-old, Amechi Stanley Chidokwe to death by hanging for armed robbery.
The convict hails from Umudora Anam, Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The Judge, Justice Mabel Omovie, sentenced him in the three counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, attempted armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms.
According to the prosecutor, the offenses are punishable under Sections 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special provisions) Act Cap R11 Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria; 2 (1)(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special provision) Act Cap R11 Volume 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and 3 (1) of Robbery and Firearms (Special provisions) Act Cap R11, Volume 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The convict, though pleaded not guilty in all the charges, but Justice Omovie convicted him for overwhelming evidence canvassed throughout the Court which started on the 20th of November, 2017.
According to the evidence of the nominal complainant, Mr. Kenneth Oseji, on the 13th of January 2017, the convict accosted me at gun point in my premises when I drove home after work at about 5pm and demanded for my car key.
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He told the Court that he was assisted by a man to overpower the armed robber with gun that fell off from his hand.
He said he raised an alarm which attracted neighbours; the assailant and his cohorts also ran away in different directions. Some of them entered a waiting tricycle outside the gate and with the help of neighbours who started pushing the tricycle, it fell into a ditch and the other occupants ran away while the convict who was driving the tricycle was apprehended.
At the close of evidence, counsel to the convict, Mr. K. O. Ajayi submitted in his written address that prosecution has failed to prove the guilt of Ameachi Stanley beyond reasonable doubt and therefore urged the Court to discharge and acquit the him.
But the Assistant Chief State Counsel, E. U. Ogbolu urged the Court to convict the convict as charged having effectively discharged the burden of proving its case of conspiracy to commit Armed Robbery, attempted robbery and illegal possession of firearms against the defendant.
The Judge in judgement, said that “considering the gamut of evidence before the Court, the prosecution has successfully proved beyond reasonable doubt the three counts of conspiracy, attempted robbery and illegal possession of firearms against the convict; he is to die by hanging”.
