Student Of Delta State Poly Sentenced To Death For Robbery

A 22-year old student of Delta State Polytechnic,
Eguono Akpeghughu, has been sentenced to death
by hanging by a Warri High Court in southern
Nigeria, for armed robbery.
Akpeghughu who was found guilty on a two-count
charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and
armed robbery, was said to have robbed his victim
of cash and other valuables worth over N30, 000.
The offences are punishable under section 1(2)(a)
of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions)
Act, Cap R 11 Volume 14, Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria, 2004.
The court held that the prosecution proved essential
ingredients of armed robbery against the accused
beyond all reasonable doubt from the totality of
evidence presented before the court.
The court further held that prosecution was able to
pin the accused to the scene of crime from the
evidence of Prosecution Witness 1, the testimony of
a witness who assisted in arresting the accused as
well of his confessional statement and other
exhibits recovered from him including the wrist
watch of the victim which were all tendered and
admitted in evidence by the court.
The court heard that the convict with others now at
large, on 4 January 2008, had attacked George
Ogbemudia at Bazunu junction, Warri and robbed
him of his wrist watch worth N1,200, a necklace
worth N7,000, Sony Ericsson handset worth
N26,000 and N2,000 cash.
The accused was arrested with the help of a
passerby when the victim summoned up courage
and grabbed the accused as he made to escape
with his loot and raised alarm while his other gang
members escaped.
It was later discovered that the accused, suspected
to be a member of an armed gang terrorising the
neighbourhood especially pedestrians, lives a
stone’s throw from the scene of crime.
He was later handed over to the police where he
voluntarily made a confessional statement admitting
to the crime