Justice T.Y Abasi of Brass High Court sitting in the Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa, has sentenced a man who died in custody and one other person to five years imprisonment for conspiracy, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms.

The judge found the accused guilty on the three-count charge preferred against them by the police.

The convicts, Believe Leisure, 36 and Jacob Doukumo, 42, in suit number BYHC/BHC/CR/1/2023, were arrested by men of Operation Puff Adder, Bayelsa State Police Command, on December 24, 2022, along Sangana creek in Brass Local Council of the state.

While Doukumo was present in court for sentencing, Leisure died in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, in Okaka, Yenagoa, while awaiting trial.

According to the police counsel, Stella Jerry-Friday, the convicts were arraigned on the charge of conspiracy to committee felony and armed robbery, an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (special provision) Act.CAP.R11, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The prosecution also informed the court that after diligent investigation by police operatives, led by SP Chris Nwaogbo, Believe Leisure and Jacob Doukumo were arrested and later remanded in custody.

One of the counts read: “That you, Believe Leisure, Jacob Doukumo and three others at large on the 24th day of December, 2022, at about 4:00 a.m., at Sangana Akassa, in Brass Local Council of Bayelsa State, while armed with a one single-barreled gun and two machetes, attacked one Johnbull and one Jackson, and robbed them of a 30 horsepower Suzuki outboard engine valued at N600,000 only.”