Fake Soldier and Serving Police Officer Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Armed Robbery in Ondo
Ondo High Court Sentences Fake Soldier and Serving Police Officer to Death by Hanging for Armed Robbery
An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced a serving police officer, David Friday, and a fake soldier, Innocent Victor, to death by hanging after they were found guilty of multiple armed robbery-related offences, including conspiracy, impersonation of security personnel, and armed robbery. The sentence was delivered following a verdict that deemed the prosecution’s evidence beyond reasonable doubt.
The offenses date back to January 15, 2021, in Idanre, where the duo, disguised in a black police shirt and full military camouflage, accosted unsuspecting victims at night. Armed with jack knives and a pistol, they robbed multiple people, including a man returning from his farm, from whom they seized ₦6,000, fueled their motorcycle, and took his Itel phone worth ₦8,500.
Another witness, a security guard on duty at Yaba Junction, testified that the suspects accosted an 18-seater bus, forcing the driver to lie on the floor and robbing him of his money. The driver was later identified at the police station when he confirmed recognizing one of the men dressed in the police uniform.
A third complainant, a transporter, reported being attacked and beaten by the pair. One of them demanded ₦10,000; when he resisted, they forced the money out of his pocket, dragged him out of his vehicle, and even injured his leg with a dagger while threatening him with a pistol.
The prosecution revealed that David Friday was a serving police officer assigned to Olofin Police Station in Idanre, while Innocent Victor’s claim of being a soldier was debunked by the Owena Cantonment in Akure.
Given the severity of their crimes and the strength of the evidence, Justice W. R. Olamide handed down a death sentence by hanging. The judge stated that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt, leaving no room for leniency.
