Ondo Robberies: Evangelist, Five Others Sentenced To Death By Hanging

A popular Akure-based evangelist, Adewale Adelu, and five others have been sentenced to death by hanging by an Akure High for robbing two different banks on November 19 and December 8, 2011, in Akure and Idanre.

The convicts were said to have robbed the banks and carted away N34 million.

They were arraigned on July 14, 2022, on four counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms and were remanded in the Olokuta Correctional Centre.

The prosecuting counsel, F.K. Salami, told the court during proceedings that the convicts and others, while armed with AK-47 guns, dynamite, and other dangerous weapons at Oyemekun Road, Akure, conspired to attack and robbed Diamond Bank Plc.

He said they carted away the sum of N30 million and a different brand of phones, including other valuable property.

The convicts were also said to have on December 8, 2011, at 2 pm, robbed First Bank Plc at Yaba Road, Idanre, where they took away the sum of N4 million.

Salami added that the defendants and others at large attacked a church around Adaba FM, Ilara-Mokin, at 12:45 p.m. and robbed two pastors, Jeremiah Adanlawo and D.O. Ajayi, of their cars with number plates JU522EKY and JV322EKY, respectively.

The prosecution said that the offences contravene Sections 6b, 1 2a, and b of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Vol. 14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the offences preferred against them.
Justice Yemi Fasanmi, while delivering judgment, sentenced the convicts, which include, Ikechuckwu Maduagwu, Adewale Adelu, Fayemi Olubusuyi, Ropo Adeleye, Dele Otopka, and Bayo Omotosho, for robbing two commercial banks in Akure and Idanre.

Justice Fasanmi said that “the prosecution was able to prove the offence of armed robbery against all the convicts beyond a reasonable doubt.”

In his verdict, Justice Fasanmi said that “although no eyewitness or evidence directly linked the defendants to the commission of the crime, the confessional statements of each of the defendants were copiously corroborated with the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, including the evidence of their arrest and how they were arrested.

The trial judge said 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 also said, “The defendants were unanimous in their confessions and the role each of them played in the robberies.

He, therefore, sentenced the six defendants to death by hanging in each of the counts.