The convicts identified as Akingbade David, Michael Mayowa and Ibrahim Mukaila were charged with armed robbery and conspiracy.
#RevolutionNow convener, Mr Omoyele Sowore, has berated the Nigerian justice system for exonerating rich politicians who steal public funds and prosecuting petty thieves.
Sowore noted that it is the reason why he will never support the death penalty in Nigeria because it is only meant for petty thieves while politicians who run public treasury down get court orders to enjoy their freedom.
The former African Action Congress presidential candidate said this while reacting to the judgment of the Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, which sentenced three persons to death by hanging for carjacking
The convicts identified as Akingbade David, Michael Mayowa and Ibrahim Mukaila were charged with armed robbery and conspiracy.
According to the charge sheet, they were arrested and charged with robbing one Gbenga Ajayi of his Toyota Corolla car at gunpoint on March 1, 2019, at the NTA Road, Ado Ekiti.
The prosecutor, O.F. Ajumobi, Assistant Chief Legal Officer, who prosecuted the case for Ekiti State, said, “The offences of conspiracy and armed robbery are contrary to Section 6(b)of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap.R11, Vol.14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Reacting to the court ruling, Sowore in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, said it is unbelievable that a court issued an order stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from probing former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi’s alleged corrupt practices and money laundering in billions of Naira while in office but sentenced the carjackers.
He lamented Fayemi and Ayodele Fayose, another former Ekiti governor, stole billions of Naira from the state’s coffers but while a court had stopped an investigation into Fayemi, he was sure that Fayose – who is still facing trial for N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering – would not get a jail term, let alone the death penalty.
He wrote, “Unbelievable! Two former governors of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose (@govayofayose) and Kayode Fayemi (@kfayemi), stole billions of naira from the state's coffers.
“Fayose is undergoing trial for ₦6.9 billion fraud and money laundering, but I could bet he won't get a jail term, let alone the death penalty.
“@kfayemi even got a court order to stop the @officialEFCC from probing him, but the Nigerian justice system is to hang two persons for stealing a car?
“This is why I will never support the death penalty; it is meant for petty thieves! #Notodeathpenalty.”
In Nigeria, it's often the case that small-time criminals receive harsh sentences, including life imprisonment or the death penalty, while politicians who embezzle significantly larger sums of money often go unpunished and escape accountability.