Man Jailed 15 Years for Attempting to Rob with Toy Gun

Ladipo Sanusi/

Man who attempted to rob a victim with toy gun has been jailed 15 year.

Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya of an Igbosere High Court in Lagos, today convicted and sentenced a 36-year-old Demola Ajibade for attempting to rob a customer care executive, Charles Akpati, with a toy gun on February 7, 2014.

During the trial, Akpati testified that Ajibade stopped him on the road in Ikorodu on the day of the incident and claimed that they were former neighbours at Festac Town.

Akpati further stated: “I asked him to explain how we met and he mentioned my secondary school, Festac College.

“Not long after that, he told me that someone did not like me, especially at my office and that he had been mandated to kill me. He lifted his shirt a little and there was a gun there.

“He said he would kill me and that was what he did for a living. He said eyes were on me and I could not escape because his gang members were in hiding and watching us, but that he had decided not to kill me.”

The witness told the court that the convict demanded N300,000 to spare his life, but he negotiated it to N100,000.

He said Ajibade accepted and followed him to the nearby Guaranty Trust Bank so he could withdraw the money.

Akpati said: “He followed me to the bank and on getting to the security door, he said he would not enter with me because of the gun and warned me not to misbehave when I got inside.”

The witness said he quickly informed the bank’s security officials, who, along with a mobile policeman, Corporal A. Richard, from the nearby Access Bank, pursued and arrested Ajibade, and upon searching him, a toy gun was found on him.

According to the prosecution, police investigation showed that Ajibade specialised in internet scams and had been fraudulently obtaining money from victims in Italy.

Ajibade denied the denied the allegation.

He claimed Akpati owed him money and refused to pay but chose to he set him up for an unlawful arrest by the police.

But Justice Ogunsanya held that Akpati’s testimony, as well as that of the other eyewitnesses, including the exhibits tendered, were credible.

The judge added: “The victim positively identified the defendant as the person who tried to rob him. The court is satisfied that the defendant is guilty as charged and thereby sentenced to 15 years imprisonment without an option of fine.”

The sentence takes effect from February 2014 when the convict was arrested.

The convict, a native of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, who resides in Festac Town, Lagos, was arraigned on June 24, 2014 on a one-count charge of attempted robbery.

The prosecutor, Adebayo Haroun said the offences contravened Section 296(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Ajibade had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

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