NIGERIA: TWO BROTHERS GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR ROBBERY

June 27, 2012: In Nigeria, the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Iorhemen Hwande, in Makurdi, sentenced two brothers, Ibrahim Yau and Abubakar Yau, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
They were said to have conspired between themselves and robbed one Simon Tartyough and Isaiah Kena of mobile phones and cash to the tune of N39,040 on Makurdi-Guma Road, in March, 2010.
The brothers were alleged to have robbed the victims at gun point. The two brothers were arraigned for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery; offences which are in contravention of Sections 6(b) and 1(2) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms Act.
The convicts, however, denied the allegation, testifying for themselves and calling only one witness during the trial.
In his judgment, Hwande said that from the evidence before the court, the prosecution had proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt that the convicts actually committed the offences.
The judge also said that their victims identified them; adding that though the convicts had no evidence of previous conviction, his hands were tied.
“The provisions of the law is that a convict of armed robbery has no option than a death sentence under the section 1(2) and (b) of the Robbery Act,” he said. (Sources: dailytimes.com.ng, 28/06/2012)