Four sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping, conspiracy in Ekiti

The High Court of Ekiti State, presided over by Hon. Justice A.L. Ogunmoye, on Monday convicted and sentenced four persons to life imprisonment.

The convicts, Adeoye Sunday, Adewusi Dare, Bamigboye Damilola, and Ogunlayi Seun, were convicted for the offense of kidnapping and five years imprisonment for the offense of conspiracy.

The fifth defendant, Ojo Tope, was, however, acquitted and discharged of all the offenses.

The offenses were committed by the convicts on September 14, 2017, at Ikere-Ekiti, where one Madam Florence Popoola, an aged woman of 75 years, was kidnapped in her house and was kept in the forest between Eyio and Awo-Ekiti for four days until she was eventually released after the payment of N1.5 million ransom.

The four convicts were arrested and charged with the offenses of conspiracy, armed robbery contrary to Section 6(b) & 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, kidnapping, and conspiracy to kidnap contrary to Sections 3 & 4 of the Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, 2015.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibare, Esq., who prosecuted the case for Ekiti State, called four witnesses and tendered eight exhibits to prove his case.

The convicts, who spoke through their counsel, Chris Omokhafe, Esq., and Sunday Ochai, Esq., gave evidence in their defense but did not call any other witnesses.

The Honourable Court, after thoroughly evaluating the evidence led, delivered judgment and held that the prosecution proved the offenses of conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping against the first to fourth defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Judge consequently convicted four out of the five defendants and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

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