Rabiu Omaku
A 29 year old Gwom Yusuf Ali of Barkin Ladi Local Government of Jos Plateau State has been sentenced to 13 years imprisonment by the High Court sitting in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Gwom Yusuf Ali who has been in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service since November 2020, was arrested by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, after a robbery attack in Gunki-Marmara, along Keffi road in Nasarawa Local Government.
The defendant was charged on two counts charges of armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm.
The prosecuting Counsel, R.D.K. Adagba Esq who tendered the confessional statement of the defendant through the Investigating Police Officer, said the defendant had confessed to robbing his victim Hassan Ahmed, an Okada rider, at gun point, and carted away the sum of N130.00 only and motorcycle of the victim.
After the close of the prosecution case, the defense counsel, Barrister L. A. Bina of the Legal Aid Counsel, did not adduce any evidence in defense of the case against her client.
Barr. Bina said that she rested her case on the case of the prosecution, thereafter the parties address the court with their final written addresses to close the case.
The Judge of the Nasarawa High Court, Justice Sunday Bawa, who basically relied on the evidence of the IPO and the confessional statement of the defendant, came to the conclusion that the prosecution has proved offenses of armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm against the defendant, under robbery and firearms Act (Special Provision) Act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Justice Bawa convicted the defendant Gwom Yusuf Ali and sentenced him to serve 13 years imprisonment for Armed robbery and 1 year for unlawful possession of a firearm. The two sentences, according to the Judge are to run concurrently.
