In the quiet town of Ikere Ekiti, a gripping courtroom drama reached its climax. Four men faced the consequences of their actions after their horrifying kidnapping of 75-year-old woman became a deal gone back.
Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division has sentenced four men to life imprisonment for kidnapping a 75-year-old woman in Ikere Ekiti.
Now, four men – Adeoye Sunday, Adewusi Dare, Bamigboye Damilola, and Ogunlayi Seun – will now spend the rest of their lives in prison.
They were convicted for their role in the kidnapping of 75-year-old Madam Florence Popoola.
They also received five-year sentences for conspiracy. However, the court acquitted them of armed robbery charges.
Kidnapping In Ekiti
The court tried the defendants for kidnapping the woman from her house on September 14, 2017, in Ikere Ekiti.
They kept her in a forest between Eyio and Awo-Ekiti for four days before releasing her after receiving a ₦1.5 million ransom.
The five defendants were arrested and charged to court with the offences of conspiracy to armed robbery, kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap.
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The Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibare, who prosecuted the case for Ekiti State, stated that “the offences committed by the defendants were contrary to Section 6(b) & 1(2)(a) of the Robbery.
“Also, Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap.R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.
He also noted that the charges violated Sections 3 & 4 of the Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, 2015.
Ajibare called four witnesses and tendered eight exhibits to prove his case.
The defendants, who spoke through their counsel, Chris Omokhafe and Sunday Ochai, gave evidence in their defence and did not call any other witnesses.
The judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, in the judgment held that the prosecution proved the offences of Conspiracy to Kidnap and kidnapping against the 1st – 4th defendants beyond reasonable doubt.
Ogunmoye consequently convicted four out of the five defendants and sentenced them to life imprisonment for kidnapping.
They also received five years imprisonment for conspiracy to kidnap.
However, the court acquitted and discharged these four defendants of the charges related to conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery.
The 5th defendant, Ojo Tope was however acquitted and discharged for all the offences.
