The decision by a Special Criminal Court in Ikeja, presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada, on Tuesday, January 17, to sentence 32-year-old vulcaniser Chidozi Oninchi to death for allegedly robbing a nurse of N57,000, has sparked outrage among Nigerians.

Justice Dada said the prosecution had proven three charges of conspiracy, armed robbery and membership of an illegal society against Oninchiz.

Dada said the defendant's efforts to avoid the charges were futile.

The accused said that the complainant was one of the boys who used scissors and forcibly took a bag of N57,000 from him at Akesan bus stop.

In his confessional statement, Onyinchiz said Ediri saw Endurance on a public bus and after the bus broke down, Endurance was taken to his father's house.

Also, they ended up sleeping in an unfinished building because the tolerance father did not open the door to spend the night in his house.

The affidavit confirmed that on the day of the incident, the victim was arrested at about 4.30am by two boys armed with iron rods and scissors.

"He said two boys robbed him.

The totality of the evidence presented at trial is compelling and I find the defendant guilty of the charges against him.

"Therefore, he was sentenced to death by hanging and may God bless his soul," Judge Dada said.

The state prosecutor, Afolake Onayinka, earlier told the court that the accused was still committing crimes with a partner.

Onayinka said the offense contravenes the Lagos State Penal Code, 2015.

However, the decision sparked a lot of comments among Nigerians, with many wondering why politicians stole billions of dollars and received lighter sentences.

Twitter users reacted

Twitter user @DanielRegha tweeted: "A man (Chidozi Onyinchiz) has been reported to have been sentenced to death by Justice Dada for robbing a nurse of N57k This man should be punished, but the death penalty is too severe. Many of the worst offenders are sent to prison, so why they were killed? Article 390 says otherwise."

Another Twitter user, @MrJamal001, said: "If he uses any weapon (knife, broken bottle, gun, etc.) it is armed robbery and is punishable by death under the Law. What is stolen has no value. "The hands of the court are tied in such cases."

@owendino01 commented on this issue: "I think this judgment is based on politics the Yoruba judge sentenced the Nigerian Igbo to death for robbery. I believe he can appeal the sentence so he will spend time in jail! There is always a double standard in our justice system! "

@chaeyyilaw also replied: Criminal robbery is punishable by death armed robbery (gun, table knife, scissors) at the time of the crime will be charged with armed robbery. the law does not care about your feelings The law is the law. "

Another Twitter user @realDan32 reacted: "Our justice system in this country is one-sided, the vulcaniser may have 57,000 convictions, but Uzo Kala was released after robbing billions. God oooo!"

Legal opinion
Speaking to the ICIR, lawyer Abiola Kolawole, after giving his legal opinion on the matter, said that since it involved armed robbery, the punishment was death.

"This can't be right. This is the way to kill someone during a robbery or armed robbery.

"Judicial work is always important context is important. If you look at what was said earlier, I said that a thief is different from a thief.

"Yes, the crime of armed robbery is death. Now, the difference is with theft. Now let me play devil's advocate here.

"Why should the yahoo boy who defrauded millions be sentenced to death?" No, exploitation of society is different from armed robbery. "

Kolawole said the law is about armed robbery because there are guns.

Also commenting on the judgment, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, His Holiness O. Ifezue, said that although it may seem harsh to the average Nigerian, it is within the law.

It states in section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act that armed robbery is punishable by death and aggravated robbery is punishable by a term of not less than 21 years (section 1 (section 1) of the same Act).

Maybe what is the difference between the two? Therefore, the two crimes are considered equal

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