By Odafe Isharo
ASABA/Nigeria: The Court of Appeal, Asaba Division, has affirmed the death sentence passed on 32-year-old Oghenero Oghenese by a Delta State High Court, bringing to a close his legal challenge against the conviction for armed robbery.
Delivering judgment on March 31, 2026, in Appeal No. CA/AS/13C/2025, the appellate court dismissed Oghenese’s appeal for lacking merit and upheld both his conviction and the sentence of death by hanging earlier handed down by the trial court.
Oghenese was tried before Justice M. N. Obi on a three-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms. The prosecution, led by an Assistant Director in the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Catherine Onoberhie-Oberuomo, told the court that the offences were committed on July 1, 2014, at No. 24 Mudi Street, opposite Heroes of Faith Church, Ughelli.
According to the prosecution, Oghenese and others still at large robbed one Mr. Michael Ojo of ₦470,000. He was reportedly subdued at the scene by the victim and his late brother, Mr. Clement Emudianughe, before being handed over to the police.
Justice Obi convicted Oghenese on December 21, 2017, and sentenced him to death by hanging.
The convict appealed the judgment in April 2025 in Appeal No. CA/AS/13C/2025. However, on March 31, 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and upheld both the conviction and the sentence, affirming the High Court’s decision in its entirety.
