From: Romanus Okoye
A 26 year old shoemaker, Peter Orji was yesterday sentenced to 21 years each on two count charges bordering on conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery.
According to the presiding judge, Justice S. Ogunsanya of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, the imprisonment will run concurrently starting from 2012 when he has been in detention.
According to the prosecution, the two charges read, “That Peter Orji and others at large on or about October 15, 2012 at about 8.22hr at MDL Distribution Company Limited conspired to commit felony, to wit-armed robbery.
“That you at the same day, time and place whilst armed with offensive weapons to wit, guns and other dangerous weapons robbed one Mojisola Olayiwola of the sum of N2,700,000 belonging to MDL Distribution Company Nig Limited.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. In his statement of defence, he stated that he was a businessman and lives at No 5 Hillary Street, Aba, Abia State. That he entered night bus that stopped him at Amuwo Odofin, close to ABC Transport on the said date. That he took a bike which stopped along the way to pump the tyre and he too stepped aside to make call. But when he returned to where the bike parked, he saw some people wearing civilian uniform. According to him, they asked him where he was coming from which he explained. Thereafter, he was required to bail himself. But when he could not raise the money demanded, he was taken to SARS where he spent two months before he was charged to court. He denied being in possession of any gun as alleged by the prosecution; stating that the only thing found on him was the sum of N207,000 when he was arrested.