The men
are Raman Salawudeen, Ayo Olapada, Franklin Akpobuwa and Sese Demilade.
Justice
Ipaye said: "The prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable
doubts; the defendants are hereby discharged and acquitted.
"You
have been given a second chance, go and look for gainful employment.
"It is
better to be road sweepers than be involved in nefarious activities. I do not
want to see you in my court again."
Ipaye
said the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubts.
"I find
no evidence pointing to conspiracy; it was only the first defendant that was
identified at the bus stop.
"On the
attempted robbery charge, the totality of the evidence was that the last overt
act was crossing the road.
``There
was no evidence that the defendant threatened or took calculated steps to rob
Sylvester Okor.
``On
illegal possession of firearms in a public place as contained in Section 296
(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, a person's residence cannot be seen as
a public place.
``There
is no shred of evidence that Sese was found in possession of a firearm in a
public place," she ruled.
Ealier,
the prosecution led by Mr Akin George, had alleged that the defendants
attempted to rob a man, Sylvester Okor, on June 16, 2013 at Peace Estate,
Market Bus Stop, Badagry in Lagos State.
The
prosecution claimed that the defendants were walking behind Okor at a petrol
station when a vigilance group in the neighbourhood alerted him of their
presence and they fled.
"The
defendants ran immediately Okor was alerted and the vigilantes gave them a hot
chase and Akpobuwa, the first defendant, slipped and was caught while the other
accomplices escaped.
"He was
caught in front of the petrol station and a handkerchief and two live
cartridges were found in his possession."
George
said a locally made pistol was found in the home of Sese, one of the defendants,
adding that the neighbourhood had been experiencing robberies which led to the
setting up of the vigilance group.
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