The Court of Appeal, Awka Division, has affirmed the conviction and death sentence passed on Chizoba Ede for armed robbery by an Anambra State High Court.
In a judgment delivered on June 15, 2022, by Justice Victoria Nwoye, now of the Court of Appeal, the trial court found Ede guilty and sentenced him to death by hanging.
The prosecution had told the court that Ede and four accomplices, armed with firearms and other offensive weapons, attacked a victim along Upper Iweka in Onitsha while he was in transit.
During the attack, the victim was reportedly stabbed, sustained severe injuries to his hand, and was dispossessed of money and other valuables.
The court heard that shortly after the incident, the victim spotted the suspects attempting to flee by boarding another vehicle and raised an alarm, which attracted the attention of the driver and passersby.
The intervention of members of the public and local vigilante operatives led to the arrest of Ede, while others escaped.
Following his arrest, Ede reportedly made confessional statements to the police and led officers to the gang’s hideout, where only the victim’s identity card was recovered.
Based on the evidence presented, the trial court convicted and sentenced him accordingly.
Dissatisfied with the verdict, the appellant challenged the judgment on grounds of inadequate legal representation and alleged improper evaluation of evidence.
However, the appellate court dismissed the appeal, holding that the trial court properly evaluated the evidence and that the appellant’s right to fair hearing was not violated, as he was adequately represented throughout the proceedings.
The court consequently upheld the conviction and sentence.
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