An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced two men to 25 years’ imprisonment each for kidnapping.

The convicts, Ibrahim Abubakar, 44, and Abdulahi Abubakar, 41, were sentenced by Justice Lekan Ogunmoye after they were found guilty of kidnapping Omoboade Adesina.

Two other defendants, Usman Abubakar, 49, and Abdulazeez Alebiosu, 59, who died during the pendency of the case, were also arraigned alongside the convicts.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice Ogunmoye on October 4, 2022, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder and kidnapping.

The charge read: “That, the defendants on 9/3/2022 at off Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado-Ekiti, did conspire to murder one Taiwo Adesina; also on 22/4/2022, did conspire to kidnap Omoboade Adesina, contrary to Sections 244, 234, 279(1)(a) of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.”

Testifying before the court, the victim said her late husband, Taiwo Adesina, was shot by gunmen at his farm.

“The deceased was my husband. I was a staff of the NYSC in Ekiti State,” she said.

“On the fateful day, I received a call that a gang of gunmen came to my husband’s farm. He tried to escape but was shot in the head and was rushed to Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“I was at home to mourn for some days. After completion, I went to the farm alongside my son and brother-in-law to see the situation of things.

“I heard a knock on the gate. My brother-in-law went to open the gate but ran back to inform us that they were gunmen. We quickly locked the door. They jumped in through the fence, gained access and dragged me out. I was taken on a motorcycle to an unknown destination.

“They used my phone to negotiate for a ransom of N10m, but my relatives could only raise and pay N3.25m.

“I could see some of the gunmen’s faces clearly when I was in their captivity and recognised them when they were paraded by the police,” she said.

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called seven witnesses and tendered the defendants’ statements and MTN call logs as exhibits.

The defendants testified in their defence through their counsel, Chris Omokhafe, but called no witnesses.

In his judgment, Justice Ogunmoye held that the victim did not mention the name of the second defendant, Usman Abubakar, in her testimony.

He consequently discharged and acquitted Usman on all the charges.

The judge also held that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants conspired to kill Taiwo Adesina.

They were consequently discharged and acquitted on counts one and two, bordering on conspiracy and murder.

“In all, the sole issue for determination is resolved partly in favour of the prosecution,” the judge held.

Justice Ogunmoye subsequently sentenced Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdulahi Abubakar to 25 years’ imprisonment each for kidnapping.

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