Court sentences lecturer to death by hanging for armed robbery
Ondo State High Court Sentences College Lecturer to Death for Armed Robbery
Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State – Shittu Isiaka, a lecturer at the College of Health Technology, has been sentenced to death by hanging following a conviction for armed robbery. The ruling was issued by Justice O. M. Adejumo of the Ondo State High Court.
Isiaka faced charges of conspiracy and armed robbery and was found guilty on both counts. However, the court acquitted him of a third charge related to endangering the life or health of the victim, determining that the prosecution did not meet the burden of proof for that allegation.
The defendant was arraigned on November 26, 2018, on a three-count indictment that included conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, and endangering life. Prosecutors alleged that Isiaka, along with accomplices who are still at large, attempted to rob a commercial driver, Olatunji Olowoyeye, in 2017. The incident reportedly occurred along the Akure–Ilesha Motorway, where Isiaka and others allegedly held Olowoyeye at gunpoint and stole his Nissan Cabstar truck, registered as XJ 214 KTU.
During the trial, a police witness, Inspector Kehinde Omotosho, testified that Olowoyeye, after being rescued by highway patrol officers, had implicated Isiaka in a written statement. Throughout the proceedings, Isiaka maintained his innocence, denying any involvement in the robbery.
In his judgment, Justice Adejumo stated that the prosecution had not successfully established the charge of endangering life as required by the Evidence Act.
