Baker Sentenced To Death By Hanging For Armed Robbery
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By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare On Mar 7, 2019
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A 30-year-old baker, Moroofu Shina, has been sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Kabiru Olawoyin of an Oyo State High court, Oyo Judicial Division after being found guilty of armed robbery.

Shina, who was alleged of operating a one-man armed robbery gang was charged on a three-count charge that bordered on conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession in a suit delineated HOY/3c/2017, and he had pleaded not guilty to the three counts charge


The prosecuting state counsel, Prince Adetunji Gbadegesin, who is the Solicitor- General and Permanent Secretary in the Oyo State Ministry of Justice, had alleged before the court that the accused and others now at large had on April 16, 2016 at around 8:20pm at Alfa tick Petrol Station along Awe/Oyo road, in Oyo judicial Division conspired together to commit a felony to wit armed robbery

Gbadegesin told the court that the accused had on the same date, time and place whilst armed with one locally made gun robbed one Mr Waheed Azeez with the sum of three hundred and eighty-five thousand naira (N385,000.0), one Nokia XL cell phone valued at thirty-nine thousand naira (39,000.00)

According to the prosecuting counsel, Moroofu on July 8, 2016 at about 1100pm at Adyem Prints, opposite Old National bank building Owode, Oyo, also robbed with a gun, one Afolabi Yemisi of her three phones and a bag containing person belongings

The offence according to the state counsel is contrary to and punishable under section 6(b)of Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act,Cap.R.11,vol.14 the laws of the Federation ,section 1(2)(a) and (b) laws ,section1(2)(a)And (b) of the Armed robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Cap R.11,Vol.14laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004

Counsel to the accused Mr.Olarewaju Okeyinka had told the court that his client only attempted to rob and that he did not commit the robbery.

Justice Olawoyin had ruled that by available evidence, the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable, adding that, “From the totality of the evidence brought by the prosecutor, the court is of the firm belief that the prosecutor has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person indeed committed the offence.

“The evidence of the prosecution witness as well as an extrajudicial statement which is known as confessional statement indicating that the accused also confessed to the crime and in view of this evidence which the defence has not been able to challenge and controvert in the face of credible evidence lead by the prosecution,” Justice Olawoyin held.


The counsel to the accused had prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in his allocutus but the prosecuting counsel had argued that the duty of the court was attainment of justice, stressing that “from the totality of the offence level against the Moroofu Shina, the punishment is death by hanging and the court has no discretion to reduce the punishment in order to serve as deterrent to others.

Justice Olawoyin sentenced Moroofu to death by hanging having found him guilty of all the charges.