An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced two ex-convicts to death by hanging for conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping.
The duo of 42-year-old Onileowo Rotimi and Adetola Ayodele, 42, were arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Bamidele Omotosho on June 30, 2017 on three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping.
The charge reads, “That the convicts on 7th October, 2016 at Abuta Omuo Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire to commit armed robbery, when they robbed one Mrs Ajibola Oyelola, on same date and place, they also conspired to kidnap the victim”.
The offences according to the charge are contrary to Sections 516, 402 and 403 (A) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, also Section 3 (a) (b) of the Ekiti State Kidnapping and Terrorism (prohibition) Laws, 2015.
The victim in her testimony before the court narrated, “I was cooking in the kitchen around 8:30p.m, suddenly I saw five gunmen in the living room. They asked of my husband whom they said offended their boss and they are here to kill him. Since he was not at home, they collected my car key and a sum of N78,000 I have at home; they blindfolded me and also tied my hands. I was ordered to lay face down at the back seat. Before I entered the car, I saw my gateman where his hands and legs were tied with rope.
“I was taken to an unknown place inside bush, I was with them for eight days. They called my husband on the fourth day and demanded for a ransom of N40million but my husband was able to raise and pay N600,000 gathered from friends and families before I was released.
They were not masked throughout our staying together in the bush, I saw their faces clearly”.
The prosecutor, Akinola Abon called four witnesses and tendered statements of defendants as exhibits to prove his case.
The defendants, who spoke in their own defence through their lawyer, confessed to meeting and becoming friends in the prison before they committed the current offence, and did not call any witness.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Omotoso held, “I am not in the slightest doubt that the prosecution has fruitfully proved the case of conspiracy, kidnapping and armed robbery against the defendants. Consequently, the defendants are found guilty of all the offences as charged.
“For kidnapping, the defendants are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment and for armed robbery, the defendants are to be hanged by the neck until they are dead. May God have mercy on your souls”.
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