Justice I. A. Yusuf, who handed down the judgment on Tuesday, convicted them for culpable homicide in causing the death of Basil Nwafor, owner of “B-system” Supermarket along Ahmadu Bello way Ilorin, Kwara State, during armed robbery operation in 2010.

Culpable Homicide attracts death penalty under Section 221 of the Penal Code Law.

In suit no KWS37C2011, Fahad Kamaldeen, Taoheed Lamidi Olayode and two others at large were charged with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and culpable homicide among other 13 count charges.

The convicts were charged with armed robbery at Peculiar Grace Supermarket, Olorunsogo, as well as Food and Nut Supermarket, both in Ilorin, where customers were dispossessed of valuables.

Delivering his judgement, Justice Yusuf agreed with some of the submissions of the State Counsel, A.V. Lawal and found the convicts guilty of 7 out 13 count charges.

According to the Judge, the convicts will be put to death by hanging.

Defence Counsels, A.I Temeem (for 1st accused) and B.R Gold (for 2nd accused) yesterday told National Pilot of their preparations to file appeal against the judgement delivered by Justice Yusuf.

The duo spoke in separate telephone chats with our reporter in Ilorin on Wednesday.

“Appeal is my constitutional right. I’m already making preparations to appeal the judgment,” Gold said just as Temeem corroborated his view.

National Pilot recalled that the businessman was shot dead in May, 2010 by some hoodlums at the Supermarket, while a Peugeot 406 was snatched.

The then Kwara Police Command Spokesman, Dabo Ezekiel, who confirmed the incident said, policemen gave the hoodlums hot chase up to the Ilorin International Airport Area where the snatched vehicle was abandoned.