Court Sentences Man to 10 Years for Robbing Artisan, NYSC Member

An Ikeja High Court on Monday sentenced Ayomide Olayemi to 10 years imprisonment for robbing an artisan and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member of their belongings.

Olayemi pleaded guilty to a two-count amended charge of attempted felony and stealing.

Justice Modupe Nicol-Clay delivered the sentence following a plea bargain agreement, which recommended a 10-year term.

In her judgment, Justice Nicol-Clay stated that the court was satisfied that Olayemi had willingly entered into the plea bargain and fully understood the implications of his guilty plea.

“This court finds the agreed punishment of 10 years to be adequate in view of the convict’s admission of guilt and show of remorse,” the judge said.

“Ayomide Olayemi is hereby convicted for the offence of attempt to commit felony and stealing. He is hereby sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. The sentence shall commence from the date of his remand, being January 3, 2019.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olayemi was first arraigned on November 14, 2019, where he pleaded not guilty. However, he later entered a plea bargain and changed his plea.

During the trial, State Counsel Mrs. Titilayo Olanrewaju-Daud informed the court that the convict committed the offences on December 31, 2018, at about 12:00 p.m. in the Surulere/Ojuelegba area of Lagos.

The prosecution revealed that Olayemi stole four automated teller machine (ATM) cards, an NYSC identification card, a driver’s license, a Samsung C5 gold mobile phone, and the sum of N2,050.

The items belonged to an artisan, Mr. Hunwanu Adebayo, and an NYSC member, Mr. Adekanmbi Olubusayo.

The offences were said to contravene Sections 76(6) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011, and Sections 406(1) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.