An Ikeja High Court has sentenced two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Azonta Amarachukwu and Ajayi Adebayo, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
Justice Oyindamola Ogala delivered the judgment after finding the defendants guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and armed robbery, charges brought against them by the state.
According to the court, the prosecution successfully proved that the convicts participated in an illegal midnight operation between January 30 and 31, 2018. Around 2 a.m., they hijacked an Iveco container truck with registration number LSR 746 XD. The truck was loaded with 1,700 cartons of Chelsea and Action Bitter drinks worth approximately N2.7 million, along with a waybill, mobile phones, and cash.
Justice Ogala noted that the first defendant was apprehended in a Mazda car used to intercept the truck, while the second defendant was handed over to the police by NSCDC officers. The prosecution’s first witness identified both defendants and detailed their roles in the robbery. Although the stolen truck and items were later abandoned and recovered at Yaya Abatan Junction, the judge ruled that the crime was complete at the point of hijacking.
“The defendants are hereby found guilty as charged and sentenced to death by hanging,” Justice Ogala declared.
During the trial, the prosecution presented three witnesses, including the victim, the truck owner, and the investigating police officer.
Following the judgment, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, stated that the verdict reinforced the importance of holding law enforcement officers accountable.
“The public should see law enforcement officers as protectors, not threats to their safety,” he said.
