Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Wednesday sentenced four men to 14 years imprisonment each for armed robbery, following a plea bargain agreement.
Amongst
the convicts are two twin brothers a 34-year-old driver, Taiwo Ojomo,
34-year-old security guard, and Kehinde Ojomo.
The
other convicts are 34-year-old rewire, Emmanuel Bamidele (a.k.a. “DPO”); and
27-year-old cobbler, Peter Samuel (a.k.a. “Mogaji”).
They
were sentenced by Justice Abike-Fadipe after they admitted guilt to
amended two-count charges bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.
The
Prosecution told the court that the convicts while armed with guns, robbed one
Sodiq Abiodun Ezekiel of Android phone, iPhone, ATM card, the sum of N15,000
and a blue-coloured 2005 Toyota Sienna with registration number LSR 771 GG.”
The
court was told that the incident occurred on June 5, 2020, at about 23:30, at
Oshodi Bridge, Lagos, when the convicts boarded a blue 2005 Toyota Sienna with
registration number LSR 771 GG, driven by Sadiq Abiodun Ezekiel.
According
to the prosecution, the men pretended to be stranded and requested a ride, but
after entering the vehicle, they allegedly pulled out a gun and attacked the
driver.
They
were said to have dragged him to the back seat, beaten him, and robbed him of
an Android phone, an iPhone, ATM card, and N15,000 in cash before dispossessing
him of his vehicle.
The
prosecution said the stolen vehicle was later recovered the same day at Ikeja
Shopping Mall and returned to the victim.
It was
further revealed that during inspection of the recovered vehicle, the
complainant discovered a double-barrelled locally made pistol with four
cartridges, which he immediately handed over to the police.
The
convicts were initially arraigned in 2020 and pleaded not guilty.
However,
they later changed their plea following an amended charge filed on April 14,
2026, which reflected a plea bargain agreement reducing the punishment exposure
from 21 years to 14 years imprisonment.
Justice
Abike-Fadipe confirmed that the convicts entered the agreement voluntarily.
“The
court is satisfied that the defendants understood the terms of the plea bargain
and entered into it without coercion,” she said.
State
counsel, Director J.A. Ogunode, urged the court to adopt the plea bargain terms
and sentence the convicts accordingly.
However,
the judge noted that the court was not strictly bound by the terms of a plea
bargain agreement.
“The
court retains the discretion to ensure that sentences imposed meet the ends of
justice,” Justice Abike-Fadipe held.
She
thereafter sentenced each of the four men to 14 years imprisonment.
She
ordered that the sentence shall take effect from the date they were first
remanded in custody at the correctional facility.
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