The Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square has sentenced two men, Emmanuel Victor and Wisdom Ikechukwu, to 21 years imprisonment each for their involvement in an armed robbery incident targeting passengers at the Maza Maza motor park.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya handed down the judgment on Tuesday, convicting the duo on three of the four charges; conspiracy, robbery, and stealing, filed against them by the Lagos State Government.
According to the prosecution, the robbery occurred in the early hours of January 8, 2022, at approximately 4:30 a.m.
The convicts, wielding cutlasses, ambushed three passengers waiting to board a vehicle, carting away personal items including an iPhone 7, an Infinix Hot 10, a Samsung S8, and N5,000 in cash from one of the victims, identified simply as Benjamin.
The defendants were arraigned on April 21, 2022, with the trial commencing on November 18, 2023. Final written submissions were concluded by both parties by early 2025, after which the court proceeded to deliver judgment.
Citing Sections 135, 297, and 299 of the Lagos State Criminal Laws, Justice Adesanya ruled that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“It is trite that the guilt of an accused can be established through witness testimony, circumstantial evidence, and confessional statements,” the judge stated.
One of the prosecution’s key witnesses, a police officer from the Festac Division, testified that both defendants had been part of a syndicate known for terrorising commuters in the Maza Maza area.
During interrogation, both Victor and Ikechukwu confessed to using cutlasses during the robbery, admissions the judge described as “clear and voluntary.”
The court also heard from a commercial driver who reported the attack to police shortly after it happened. His account matched those of other victims and led to a swift police response, culminating in the arrest of the suspects.
Recovered items, including the stolen phones and cash, were traced back to the victims and subsequently returned to them on bond after proper identification.
“Consequently, I find the two defendants guilty as charged for the offences of conspiracy and robbery,” Justice Adesanya declared.
“The offence carries a mandatory sentence of not less than 21 years imprisonment.”
Prior to sentencing, defence counsels Mrs Ogbosa Apata and Mr B.C. Akunna made passionate appeals for leniency, citing the youthfulness of the convicts and their potential for reform.
Akunna, who represented Ikechukwu, told the court that his client was a first-time offender who had only recently completed his secondary education when the offence was committed.
“They have paid dearly for their actions and have learned their lessons,” he said, urging the court to show compassion and temper justice with mercy.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya, after weighing the submissions, proceeded to sentence both men to 21 years imprisonment each, without the option of a fine.
“The first and second convicts are sentenced to 21 years each for counts one, two, and four. They are discharged on count three,” she ruled, adding that the sentence would commence from the date they were first remanded in custody.”
