Justice E.I. Oritsejafor of a Delta State high court sitting in Effurun has sentenced one Emmanuel Ruekpe and Peter Okoro to death by hanging.
The duo were sentenced to death on two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.
Delivering judgement, Justice Oritsejafor ruled that the prosecution presented an overwhelming evidence sufficient to discharge the burden of proof on the case.
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The prosecution counsel, Mr. Ezeana Ejiofor during the trial told the court that the offence was committed on September 24, 2016.
Ejiofor, a Deputy Director in the state Ministry of Justice, said that the convicts stole a motorbike from one Mr.Ode Odera Gabriel, a commercial motorbike rider.
According to him, the convicts boarded the plaintiff motorbike on September 24, 2016 at Otu-Jeremi Junction to Owhawa Town for N400.
In the course of the journey, the 2nd defendant (Peter Okoro) alighted from a compound at Oghoir in Udu Local Government Area, where he claimed to have gone to discuss an issue with his elder brother.
“The convict stopped the motorbike rider, claiming that his face cap fell and wanted to pick it up, but, he suddenly broke a Coca Cola bottle and in a bid to avoid being stabbed, the complainant ran away.”
He noted that the complainant (motorbike rider), however, recognised the first defendant, whom he said he knew as a local dancer.
The matter was brought before the Oghoir Vigilante Chairman, which led to the arrest of the convict by the Ovwian Police Station.
Reacting to the judgment, the prosecuting counsel, expressed satisfaction with the judgment.
