Court sentences two to death in Delta for armed robbery, murder

Delta State High Court sitting in Effurun, near Warri, has sentenced two men to death after it found them guilty of conspiracy, armed robbery and murder.

They are Akpobor Erhianor and Tibra Cornelius, 2nd and 3rd defendants in the case with charge No. EHC/19C/2023, involving the State against them and Edafe Adu and Oghenewegba Cadeton in connection with a series of violent robberies and killings across parts of the state.

The 4th defendant, Oghenewegba Cadeton, who was charged with belonging to an unlawful society, was discharged and acquitted after the court held that the prosecution failed to establish the charge against him.

Presided over by Justice N. Obi, the 1st defendant, Edafe Adu, entered into a plea bargain with the prosecution and was subsequently convicted to prison terms.

‎The prosecution, led by Miss Phoebian Onomakpome, an Assistant Director in the Delta State Ministry of Justice, told the court that the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants, alongside others still at large, carried out a series of armed robberies and fatal attacks between July and August 2022 in different parts of Delta State.

‎According to the prosecution, on July 26, 2022, the defendants, while armed with firearms, robbed a car dealer, Trust Dick, at Okuokoko in Okpe local government area and made away with a Toyota Camry and a Lexus Jeep.

‎The court also heard that on August 13, 2022, the gang robbed another car dealer, Damian Owuchigbo, at his car stand along Old Airport Road, Effurun, dispossessing him of a Hyundai SUV, mobile phones, and other valuables at gunpoint.

The prosecution further established that on August 10, 2022, the defendants shot dead two vigilantes who were on patrol in Owhase Community.

It also proved that on August 23, 2022, they murdered one Godspower Moses before stealing his Mercedes-Benz GLK, mobile phones, and other valuables.

‎‎In another incident, the gang was found to have shot and killed Evans Whiskey Agbaire on July 2, 2022, before carting away his Toyota Sienna bus.

They were also linked to the attempted murder of Alfred Orioka and Hon. Festus Ovwata.

‎Delivering judgment, Justice N. Obi held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the 2nd and 3rd defendants and accordingly sentenced them to death for the offences of conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder.