Plea bargain: Court jails 2 men 14 years for robbery

Justice Yetunde Adesanya of a Lagos High Court sitting  at Tafawa Balewa Square, on Wednesday sentenced two men, Ahmed Musa and Oluwole Sunday, to 14 years’ imprisonment each, for robbery.

The convicts were convicted and sentenced after they pleaded guilty under a plea bargain agreement.

Musa and Sunday were initially arraigned on Feb. 15, 2018, before the court on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit robbery and armed robbery.

They had pleaded not guilty, and were remanded.

Their trial began on May 30, 2018. They later entered into a plea bargain agreement with prosecution.

In her judgment, Adesanya held that the sentence was in line with Section 76 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011.

“The court has ascertained from the defendants that they entered into the plea bargain agreement on their own free volition, free from any coercion.

“I have observed that the prosecution and the defence agreed on the 14-year term,” she said.

The judge, however, held that the court was not bound by the terms of the agreement, but had the power to increase or reduce the sentence term.

“The defendants pleaded guilty to a further amended charge of robbery punishable under Section 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

“The defendants are fully competent to answer to their plea, they understand the charge and that the court was not bound to the plea bargain.

“Ahmed Musa, Oluwole Sunday, in view of your plea, I hereby convict you as charged.

“You are both sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment each, starting from Oct. 14, 2016,” the judge held.

Earlier, the Lagos State counsel, Mrs A.O. Oluwafemi, informed the court that the defendants applied for a plea bargain agreement.

They were, therefore, re-arraigned and they pleaded guilty.

Their counsel, Mr B. C. Mebanu, was in court.

NAN reports that the prosecution counsel had told the court that the duo committed the offences on July 23, 2016.

She said that they robbed one Mr A. Samuel of an 18-caract gold Rolex wristwatch and an iPhone.

She said the robbery took place at Conoil Filling Station, Dopemu Bridge in Lagos State.

According to her, the offences contravene Section 297 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015. (NAN)