Emmanuel Ukudolo l Wednesday, August 15, 2018
<
strong>IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – A cab driver, Monsuru Ayoola, who robbed his former employer with plastic gun and machete for owing him arrears of salary was today sentenced to death by a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja. He was sentenced to death by Justice Raliat Adebiyi.
Ayoola resides at No. 153, Adeniyi Adeniji St., Lagos Island, Lagos, was arraigned March 14, 2016 on three-count charge of armed robbery and inflicting injury. Ayoola, told the court during the trial that his boss owed him 52 months salary arrears and had refused to pay.
Justice Raliat Adebiyi sentenced Ayoola to death after finding him guilty of one-count charge of armed robbery. She however found the driver not guilty of a two-count charge of armed robbery and inflicting injury.
“The defendant is found guilty on a one-count charge of armed robbery. The punishment for the offence is a strict and mandatory one and for this reason, the allocutus of the defence counsel cannot apply. The defendant is hereby sentenced to death pursuant to section 295 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011. May God have mercy on your soul.”
The prosecution, led by Mrs O. R Ahmed-Muili told the court that the convict committed the offence at midnight on Oct. 11, 2014 at No. 16, Yeye Olofin St., Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
“While wearing a plastic mask to conceal his identity, and armed with a machete and toy gun, he robbed Alabi, his former employer of his black wallet containing N50,000 and his Nokia and HTC mobile phones.
“He also robbed Mr Oluwaseun Badia of N18,000 and a Nokia mobile phone and stabbed Badia while fleeing the crime scene. The offences contravene Sections 243 and 295 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011,” she said, adding that Ayoola was apprehended by security guards and was unmasked during the ensuing struggle and he issued death threats to the guards who immediately recognized him.
Three prosecution witnesses including Alabi, the convict’s former employer testified during the trial. Alabi admitted that Monsuru was employed as his driver for six years, he denied owing Monsuru his salary. Alabi had told the court that the convict had lived with him during the course of his employment and that he had fired Ayoola due to his misconduct.
On June 22, 2017 the defence opened its case with Ayoola as the first defence witness.
According to the driver, he was owed salary of four years and four months and that on the day of the alleged crime, he went to confront Alabi at his home over his unpaid salary. He told the court that he attacked his former boss with a cutlass and that he fainted during the fracas and when he was revived, he was at the police station.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Justice Adebiyi had in her judgment, acquitted Ayoola of two-counts of armed robbery and inflicting injury.
“Oluwasegun Badia, the alleged second victim was not produced in court and no evidence about the alleged armed robbery was given in court. On count three which is the charge of inflicting injury, the court finds that the prosecution was unable to produce in court, proof of the injury as well as the alleged victim (Badia), “Justice Badia said.
Earlier, before the death sentence was pronounced, Mrs O. Oreagba-Ademola, Ayoola’s defence counsel in her allocutus, had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
“We urge Your Lordship to temper justice with mercy, he is a first time offender and has no prior criminal record,” the defence counsel had said.
