An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a 27-year-old man, Alex Peter, to life imprisonment for armed robbery and nine years for conspiracy.

Peter was first arraigned on December 29, 2022, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

According to the charge sheet, Peter and others still at large, on May 16, 2022, in Ado-Ekiti, conspired to rob one Augustine Steven, dispossessing him of his red Bajaj motorcycle with registration number AMK 569 UJ and ₦15,000 cash, while armed with dangerous weapons, including a cutlass and an axe — offences contrary to Sections 314 and 312 of the Ekiti State Criminal Law, 2021.

During the trial, the victim, a commercial motorcyclist, recounted how the robbery occurred around 8:45 p.m. along NTA Road, Ado-Ekiti.

“The defendant stopped me to take him to Judges Quarters. On getting there, he alighted from the motorcycle. I was expecting him to pay, but suddenly, someone emerged from the bush with a cutlass, while the passenger himself wielded an axe.

They took my ₦15,000 and the motorcycle. I recognised the defendant’s face clearly because the road was lit. I later reported the incident at the New Iyin Road Police Station,” the victim testified.

He further told the court that three days later, he spotted the defendant at a restaurant and, with the help of bystanders, apprehended him before alerting the police. A subsequent search of Peter’s residence led to the recovery of the stolen motorcycle.

Prosecution counsel O. S. Akinwumi called four witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including the defendant’s confessional statement and the motorcycle’s particulars.

The defendant, represented by counsel Stanley Okonkwo, denied the allegations and did not call any witnesses in his defence.

Delivering judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that the defendant’s confession corroborated the victim’s testimony.

“It is in evidence that the defendant confessed to being one of the armed robbers. I find the defendant guilty as charged,” Justice Adeleye declared.

Consequently, the court sentenced Alex Peter to nine years’ imprisonment for conspiracy and life imprisonment for armed robbery.