Onion seller to be hanged for robbery in Delta

AN Ogwashi-Uku High Court in Delta State has sentenced an onion seller, one Danjuma Friday, to death by hanging for robbing a lady at gunpoint while she was waiting to catch a taxi cab at night along Summit Junction on Asaba-Benin highway.
The incident, according to the prosecution, took place on June 6, 2008. The convict used to sell onions at Abraka market in Asaba, Delta State capital before the incident occurred.
Presiding Judge, Justice T. Diai, in convicting the accused person, ruled: “Having considered the evidence placed before the court by both parties, the court accepts and believes the evidence of the prosecution witnesses and rejects that of the accused person.
“The court holds that the prosecution has proved the charge of armed robbery against the accused person beyond reasonable doubt.
“This is because the sentence for armed robbery is mandatory.
“In the light of this, the court pronounces the following sentence on the accused person: Danjuma Friday, the court having found you guilty for the offences of conspiracy to commit armed robbery; the sentence of the court upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you be dead.”
“On the same facts, the court has no difficulty in holding that the accused person and Yawo, now deceased, conspired with one another to commit the said offence.
“The court appreciates the allocutus made by counsel on behalf of the accused person. Alas, no matter the persuasiveness of same, this court has no power or jurisdiction to vary the sentence in this case.

Source: Vanguard