A High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced five men to death by hanging for taking part in an armed robbery and the murder of a night guard.
Justice O.O. Olatawura gave the judgment on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The five men—Ojo Tope (also known as Tope Dudu), Damilola Christopher (XY), Joshua Adegoke, Aderopo Temitope (Tope Pupa), and Oyedele Oluwatobi—were found guilty of the crimes which happened on August 18, 2021, at Agogo Street, Ilupeju Avenue in Ado-Ekiti.
According to the court, the men broke into homes and stole money, laptops, phones, and other valuables from three victims: Ajiboye Olajide, Lateef Temidayo Busari, and Akeem Isiaka. During the robbery, they also killed the street’s night guard, Joseph Blessing.
The men were charged with conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder. They were also found guilty under the Ekiti State Criminal Code and Nigeria’s Firearms Act.
The case was led by the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibare, who brought four witnesses and 13 pieces of evidence.
Although the defence lawyer, Adeyinka Opaleke, represented all five men, none of them called any other witnesses.
After reviewing all the facts, Justice Olatawura ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. All five were sentenced to death by hanging for robbery and murder, and given 21 years in prison for conspiracy.
