After five years in prison custody, a returnee footballer from Poland, Moses Oluwajuyigbe, and a trader at Oshodi Market, Lagos, Ifeanyi Okoronkwo, were on Wednesday sentenced to three- year imprisonment for being in possession of weapons and housebreaking tools.
Justice Olabisi Akinlade of a Lagos state High Court in Igbosere, convicted and sentenced both men following their prosecution for armed robbery and unlawful possession of housebreaking instruments at night without lawful excuse.
However, both convicts were free to return home on Wednesday as their sentence was deducted from the five years they spent in prison.
First defendant Oluwajuyigbe, the son of a senior pastor, and second defendant Ifeanyi Okoronkwo, were first arraigned in 2008, on a two-count charge of armed robbery and possession of house breaking instruments preferred against them by Lagos State.
The men and two others, who are still at large, were alleged to have robbed one Chichi Okonjo and his family of four Mac Book Pro laptops, jewelry and other valuables, while armed with guns and dangerous weapons.
According to state counsel, Mrs. Rotimi Oduntola, the incident took place on June 28, 2008, at about 2:00am at No. 2, Adejonwo Street, Maryland, Lagos.
The men were also accused of having in their possession metal cutter, dagger, jackknife and a toy pistol on the night of December 18, 2009 along AIB junction, Ilupeju, Lagos.
The court heard that they were arrested when the police found the instruments inside Oluwajuyigbe’s metallic coloured BMW Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) during a routine stop and search operation.