SARAFA BABALOLA V. THE STATE

IBRAHIM MOHAMMED MUSA SAULAWA, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The present appeal is consequent upon the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, Judicial Division, delivered on June 11, 2019 in appeal No. CA/1B/5513C/2017. By the decision in-question, the court below, coram J. O. Bada, N. Okoronkwo and A. M. Talba, JJCA, upheld the decision of the trial High Court of Oyo State, delivered on March 16, 2017, thereby convicted and sentenced the Appellant and three others to death for the offences of armed robbery and conspiracy, punishable under sections 1(2) and 6 (6) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, CAP. R 11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

BACKGROUND FACTS

The Appellant and three other co-accused persons were arraigned before the trial court upon a four-count charge, dated 08/06/2012, viz:

COUNT I

That you Alaba Akinola, Sarafa Babalola, Sola Kolawole and Ibrahim Gbedeogun on the 19th of July, 2011 at about 2:00am at Ayelale area. Ibadan within the I…