A Jos High Court on Thursday sentenced a 26-year-old man, Obinah John, to death by hanging for robbing one Dorothy Olaniyi of N1,705.
The convict was also sentenced to death for robbing Olaniyi of two rolls of peak milk in sachets, valued at N400.
The prosecution counsel, Mr G. D. Fwonyon, who is the deputy director, Public Prosecution in Plateau State had told the court that John, in company with an accomplice, also named John, now at large, robbed the woman on November 18, 2005 in her shop at Gada Biu, Jos at gunpoint.
He told the court that John and his accomplice, having allegedly conspired and used a gun to rob Olaniyi, had committed a criminal offence punishable by hanging.
But John’s counsel, Mr. Tobechukwu Kekemeke, rejected the prosecutor’s claim, and accused the police of “not telling the truth about the gun” said to have been used by John.
Kekemeke pointed out that the police presented three statements, with only the last indicating a confession by the accused that he used a gun against the victim.
The defence counsel further argued that the prosecution had failed to prove to the court that the accused actually used a gun to commit the act.
He asked the court to throw out the case for lack of diligent prosecution, arguing that “the circumstances of the third statement, in which John was said to have admitted ownership of the gun, is suspect.”
In a 60-page judgment, Justice Yargata Nimpa said the evidence before the court had shown that the accused committed the offence and sentenced John to death by hanging.
“The accused is hereby sentenced to death by hanging, but the judgement is liable to an appeal,” Nimpa declared.
Kekemeke told the News Agency of Nigeria that he would appeal against the verdict.
“The convict has the right to appeal against the judgment. It is not a judgment that we are satisfied with, so we are definitely going to appeal at the Court of Appeal,” he vowed.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Dis is rubbish wat would u do if u were to judge a bokoharam man nonceses
ReplyDeleteThis is absurd, we have people ripping Nigerians off in the name of Govt in millions daily and the court is charging a man to death by hanging for N1700... Our Legal system seems to be clueless...
ReplyDeletePovery caused by the corruption, selfishness and neglet by our government turned him to a robber and because of the same poverty he cannot buy nigerian justice like our honourable members and govt officialls who steal billions that would have been used to save lives, hence killing thousands of people. We must also spare a thought for the victim Olaniyi who must have been traumatised by her experience.
ReplyDeleteIf i hapen 2 b a son of dis idiot judge, i wil kil him n burn his corpse, in a market square. Mayb d man dnt even used 2 read newspaper, crazy tins in dis naija n judicial servise commission is silent in dis case hmmm, wht a pity! if dis man is hanged 2 death, d generation of dis animalistic judge wil neva have peace. Wait a munit did d so called arm rober killed any one? D olodo when say they rob am don go gv her dirty ass 2 police 4 them 2 lie dat d man rob wit gun. Corupt elements.
ReplyDeletei urge a well meanin nigerians to pls rise up against this judgement and i therefore recommend the so called judge to be taken to pspchiatric for immediate check up for he need to be examined
ReplyDeleteThis is nonsense. The judge has a disretional power over this judgment, wonder why using a sledge harmmer to kill an ant. wonder how our rep. steal billions of naira and they are regarded as honourable personality in the society. Folks, the law is telling us that if you must steal, make it big so the the layers and the judges can have their share otherwise you will be send to death by hanging
ReplyDeleteMy fellow Nigerians, does how we feel about those who steal billions with pen as against those who steal even N1.00 with gun to be judged alike? In de case of a gun runner, his victim looses his/her life in de face of slightest resistance. How much he stole thereafter does not matter any more. What matters is dat somebody has lost life. The man who stole billions thro bribery has his own punishments from GOD even if he seem to be free from dat of man. Never mind. What is wrong is wrong. And every wrong doing has it's comensurate purnishment. I give kudos to de judge.
ReplyDeleteAnd do you know how many dies from embezzlement,misappropriation,misapplication of funds meant for roads, educational materials,drugs for hospitals,money for pensioners, adultrated fuel,air mishaps n so on?the thief here is a product of all the aforementioned.so many have lost their lives due to mismanagement n outright embezzlement of funds.
DeleteAm disappointed at the judiciary.
ReplyDeleteDont blame d judiciary but d legislature. De only mk laws to affect d poor. D law says dt if a psn steals even with a toy gun, d punishment is death. D work of d judiciary is to apply d law and not make laws. D problem is with d legislators. They peg down d maximum sentence for curroption to be two yrs cz de know de cant steal with a gun. I hv always bin an advocate of death penalty for curroption but de wont pass that dt of law cz all of them will be on death row now
ReplyDeleteThis judge must be insane ,in the first place what makes #2,105 robbery case judgement bulky to the tune of 60pages? What about those stealling billions of naira from government and terrorists we have he has not condemned them by hell fire. Nonsense!
ReplyDeleteArrant rubbish......How many pen-robbers have been jailed in this country, talk less of sentenced to death? God will judge the Judge.
ReplyDeleteFarouk Lawan,collected bribe of $620,000 and has finally promised to surrender the $500,000 but the judge did not sentences him to hanging.
ReplyDeleteI don't support obinah John for stealing. because the bible says that the stealer should steal not more but do hard work. but the judge should have tender judgment with mercy so that they too will be shown mercy along with their family.God is ready to forgive evil doer. The court should withdraw the Judgment. This is Nigeria not Mali, Libya, Liberia etc where persecution is paramount.
If he is hanged, what will be their gain when corruption is every where. A law maker stealing millions of Naira.
@9:03 thanks for a great point, pointing out the blame. A turkey will not vote of xmas so the 2 yrs sentence for corruption will still stand our legislature will never pass a bill that will affect their interests.
ReplyDeleteWhat will happen to facrook lawal & other 'dignified' crooks? Nemesis will certainly catch up with d unholy crusaders in d judiciary.
ReplyDeleteIf truly the robbery was carried out with a gun then what are we talking about? If all of you talking has ever been confronted by armed robbers you will understand better, let him face whatever punishment he deserve what if life was lost in the process.
ReplyDeleteIf John should be killed by hanging because of N1,700 then what will be the measure for Lawan Farouk offence. Bode George that swept millions under the carpet was sentenced to few months prison because he can buy himself out and was celebrated by kinsmen after jail. May God punish the stupid judge.
ReplyDeleteA corrupt leader steals from the 170 million Nigerians but a man that steals from an individual steals from just one person.....death penalty for stealing from an individual and 2 years in jail for politicians and the cartels for stealing from 170 million Nigerians hummm......the revolution in the ARAB WORLD started online i.e Facebook,twitter, online forum etc i think its high time we begin to think towards this LINE if we have to check our leaders and put things right. Nigerians lets stand up NOW
ReplyDeleteA culmination of injustice is the result of what we are seeing presently, he stole with a gun,and the law says by that very fact the act is punishable by death,he did not kill and it was not proven beyond reasonable doubt that he had a gun with him, as we see from the editorial that it was from the third statement (which must have been taken under duress) trust the Nigerian police,Now the judgement is death by hanging...I can really see indeed justice is blind as potrayed! my eyes are open and my judgement is if this young man is to be hanged for this petty act,then those presently occupying the three arms of government the executives, the legislature and the Judiciary should be hanged 10 times over. insanity!!! mtschewwww
ReplyDeletel think the judge's head needs to be examined for passing this kind of judgement.Just for ordinary N400 & N1705.What of the so-called big man in the House of assembly busy looting Nigerian money(our money) who have kill them? l think the judge is mad or not qualify to handle this case cos l never seen a reasonable & responsible judge to pass such judgement.NIGERIANS SHOULD DO SOMETHING B/4 THEY KILL THE POOR BOY WHOSE FUTURE IS AHEAD FOR OVER N1705 & N400,And have enough time to amend his ways. NIGERIANS PLS PLS PLS HEEELP HIM.
ReplyDeleteHey folks, someone has to give assent to the judgement before execution can take place. I therefore submit like Jesus Christ, that any Governor without sin in Jos Plateau should go ahead and give assent to that judgement for Obinah's execution. . .period!
ReplyDeleteArmed robbery is punishable with death no matter the amount stolen. That is the law. Once it is established beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person or his accomplices were armed during a robbery, the punishment is mandatory, death. The Judge has no discretion at all. So, those who are condemning the judge who pronounced the sentence in this matter are doing so out of unbridled ignorance!
ReplyDeleteIf they desire to assist the convict in this matter, they should plead with the Plateau Governor to reduce the sentence to a term of imprisonment instead. He
is the only person who can do so under the law.
this judge seems to be mad but if he is the one to judge Lawan he should have sentence him and his entire family to death O God help us in this country with leaders whom they have mercy on us.
ReplyDeleteThis judge really needs psychiatric test. What have they done to those High, learned and professional thieves who steal our resources both in cash and materials on daily basis? Shame to this clueless judge.
ReplyDeletejudiciary fear GOD! WHAT HAVE U DONE TO PEOPLE THAT STOLE BILLIONS IN OUR TREASURY? GOD WILL HAVE MERCY ON THE POOR MAN IN THIS COUNTRY.
ReplyDeleteI HEREBY SENTENCE THE JUDGE TO 10YEARS IMPRISONMENT WITH 30 LASHES OF THE CANES ON THE BUTTOCKS EVERY MORNING UNTIL HIS/HER SENTENCES COMPLETE.
ReplyDelete@ anonymous 4.46pm you wrote an armed robber is punishable by death PLS read article well it was only stated in the third statement tnat he robbed with a gun why not written in the very first statement presented by the police why the third statement,the judge is not intelligent at all and he is just one of the theif we harbour in this naija. haba! this guy has bn kept in the prison since 2005 till now.
ReplyDelete