MAN JAILED 21 YEARS FOR ROBBING SCHOOLTEACHER

One Sodiq Adetayo was on Wednesday sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment by a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja for robbing a 38-year-old schoolteacher, Mrs. Kabirat Kazeem, of her handbag containing valuables.

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, who handed down the sentence, found Adetayo guilty of one count of robbery though the police had charged him with armed robbery.

The judge said the charge of armed robbery could not be sustained against Adetayo because the policeman that apprehended him failed to recover the knife allegedly used by the convict to commit the crime.

Justice Ipaye held, “I am satisfied that the prosecution has proven the charge of robbery beyond reasonable doubt.

“I find you, Sodiq Adetayo, guilty of one count of robbery contrary to Section 294 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

“Undoubtedly, the convict was a victim of his poor background; however, resorting to crime is not the way out.

“I hereby sentence you to 21 years imprisonment.”

The prosecutor, Mr. B.T. Boye, had told the court that Adetayo committed the offence under the Anthony Bridge, Lagos, on February 10, 2015, around 6.30am.

According to the prosecution, the convict attacked Kazeem under the Anthony Bridge on her way to her place of work and dispossessed her of her handbag that contained her mobile phone, ATM card, I.D. card and some cash.

The prosecution told the court that the convict threatened Kazeem with a knife while demanding her bag.