By Clementina Agweda
In its determination to continue to combat crimes and criminality in Edo State, the Edo State government through the office of the Honourable Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Edo State has secured the affirmation of a sentence of death imposed by both the Edo State High Court and court of appeal on one, Sunday Osakpolor by the Supreme Court.
In a judgment delivered today, the 23rd of May, 2025 by Hon Justice Mohammed Baba Idris on behalf of a panel of the Supreme Court, it was held that the Appeal by the appellant (Sunday Osakpolor) lacks merit while the concurrent judgment of the Edo State High Court and Court of appeal Benin convicting him for the offence of armed robbery was upheld.
At the Supreme Court, the appeal was argued by the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Edo State, Dr. Samson Osagie, who argued that the lower courts were right in convicting the appellant on the basis of the direct evidences adduced by the prosecution and urged the court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the judgment of the lower courts, to which the apex agreed.
In a similar development, the Edo State Government acting through Oshirekun Otokurin, Esq, Assistant Director, Ministry of Justice, and Mrs Bridget Okonofua, Principal State Counsel, Edo State Ministry of Justice, secured the conviction of Taiwo Omorede and four others in Charge No. B/CD/163c/2023, who were charged with the offences of armed robbery, Conspiracy, assault occasioning harm and malicious damage, with the first, second and third defendants sentenced to death by hanging while the fourth and fifth defendants were convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment respectively.
Delivering judgement in the case, the presiding Judge, Hon Justice Imadegbelo held that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses placed the Defendants right in the scene of the crimes and that the Defendants couldn’t substantiate the alibi which they claimed.
These cases and many more that has been successfully prosecuted by the Edo State Government through the office of the Attorney General demonstrates the determination of the Edo State Government under Governor Monday Okpebholo to rid the state of all criminal elements and make the state safe for citizens and investors alike.
