Policeman, fake soldier sentenced to death in Ondo
By Boye Oyeyemi –
An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced two middle-aged men, David Friday and Innocent Victor, to death by hanging for their involvement in armed robbery.
The men were arraigned on a four-count charge, including conspiracy, armed robbery, and impersonating members of the armed forces and police.
One of the prosecution witnesses, Akinmodun Akinleye, told the court that while returning from his farm along Ibepo in Idanre on January 15, 2021, at about 1 a.m., he was stopped at Ojalade Junction by two men, one wearing a black police T-shirt and the other in full military camouflage.
According to him, the men ransacked his vehicle, took ₦6,000 from him, and instructed him to fuel their motorcycle with 30 litres of petrol, which he did.
Another witness, Olowogbadegun Lanre, a security guard, said he was on night duty at Yaba Junction that same night when he saw the men on a black TVS motorcycle.
They also stopped an 18-seater bus, ordered the driver out, made him sit on the floor, and took all his money, beating him with jackknives and fists.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Ilesanmi Samuel, told the court that investigations revealed David Friday was a serving police officer, while Innocent Victor’s claim of being a soldier was false.
In his judgement, Justice W.R. Olamide held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced the defendants to death by hanging.
