Three men, Nuhu Jimoh, Ndubisi David and Aderibigbe Oluwaseun, arrested for armed robbery, have been sentenced to death by hanging by an Osun State High Court.
In his judgement on Thursday, Justice Jide Falola of the High Court sitting in Ikirun, Osun State, found the men guilty of launching a coordinated attack on First Bank, Union Bank and Skye Bank, situated along the same street in Ikirun, Osun State and passed a death sentence on them.
32 lives including two policemen and two bank staff were lost during the exchange of gunshots between the robbers and the police operatives at the scene of the robbery.
The three men were arraigned on 10 counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, murder, illegal possession of firearms and others contrary to Section 6(b), 1(1) & (2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11 L.F.N, 2004, Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. 34 Laws of Osun State, 2002, and Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11 L.F.N, 2004.
Seven members of the armed gang were said to have been killed by the police at the scene of the crime, while some others escaped with gunshots injuries.
Also, seven assorted ammunitions included AK-47 gun and a cash sum of N7,486,300 taken from the banks were recovered by the police.
Biodun Badiora, who led the prosecution team from the Ministry of Justice called five witnesses and tendered 30 exhibits in support of the case.
First accused person, Nuhu Jimoh, did not call any witness but testified in his own defence but Ndubisi David and Adeibigbe Ouwaseun called three witnesses each including themselves.
Representing the accused persons, Mr. Sunday Atofarati and Ajibade Omoyajowo, urged the court to be lenient with their clients.
Delivering his judgement, Justice Falola, found the three men guilty and sentenced them to death by hanging.
He forfeited guns recovered from the men to the Nigeria Police Force and the money recovered was forfeited to Osun State Government.

By Bola Bamigbola