From Matthew Irinoye, Lagos
Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, Lagos on Monday, sentenced a 27-year-old man, Olayinka Ayeni, to life imprisonment for assaulting a lady while attempting to snatch her handbag in Meiran area of Lagos.
Delivering her judgment, Okunnu said the prosecution had proved its case against the accused beyond any reasonable doubt.
The judge convicted the accused of the offence of attempted robbery. She said the testimonies of the victim and her father were very credible and they had properly identified the accused.
According to her, the evidence before the court shows that Ayeni was armed with a dangerous weapon while he was attempting to snatch the handbag.
She said he was, therefore, guilty of the offence of attempted armed robbery.
The judge held that the sentence would commence from June 27, 2012 when Ayeni was arraigned for the offence.
It would be recalled that Ayeni was charged to court by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
He was arraigned on June 27, 2012 before Justice Lateefat Okunnu on a charge of armed robbery and had pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Mr Femi Adamson, had told the court that Ayeni committed the offence on March 14, 2011 at about 10.30 p.m., at No. 40, Kola Oretuga St., Iyana Bus Stop, Meiran, Lagos.
Adamson said that the accused trailed one Miss Modupeola Iromini from the bus stop and assaulted her with a sharp weapon while attempting to snatch her handbag.
He also added that, the victim shouted for help and was rescued by some persons who apprehended Ayeni and handed him over to the police.
He said Iromini was later taken for treatment at Niki Hospital, Meiran, due to the injuries inflicted on her by Ayeni.
Adamson said the offence contravened Section 403 (2) (a) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State 2003.
