Blessing Bello, Reporting
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced four individuals to death by hanging after finding them guilty of conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, and illegal possession of firearms.
The condemned inmates, who were first arraigned on September 1, 2022, before Justice Lekan Olatawura, faced a four-count charge relating to the abduction and killing of Chief Ajayi Emmanuel.
According to the charges, the defendants conspired to commit felony on May 5, 2022, along the immigration office in Ado Ekiti, where they kidnapped Chief Ajayi Emmanuel from his residence and subsequently murdered him. The court also heard that four cut-to-size single-barrel guns and 13 live cartridges were discovered in their possession.
The offences, as presented by the prosecutor, were contrary to sections 516A, 3(a), and 319(1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012, as well as Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Prohibition) Act, Cap R11, Vol.14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2001.
During proceedings, Police Sergeant Oladele Ayodeji testified that one suspect was initially apprehended at a robbery scene in Ekute, Ado Ekiti. Following interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a kidnapper and implicated the other defendants as members of his gang.
“One Akeem Banjo Adebayo, who later escaped, was arrested at a robbery scene at Ekute,” Sergeant Ayodeji told the court. “After interrogation, he confessed to being a kidnapper while Jimoh Dele and Bunmi Ogunremi were among his gang.”
The officer further revealed that searches conducted at various locations led to the recovery of four locally made single-barrel guns, 13 live cartridges, and hair attachments concealed in a sack at the residence of Jimoh Dele.
To substantiate his case, prosecutor Kunle-Shina Adeyemo called two witnesses and tendered evidence including the defendants’ statements, a certificate of compliance, the confiscated firearms, a video disc, and a medical report from ABUAD MSH.
The defendants, represented by their respective counsel Adeyinka Opaleke and Olugbolaga Sunday, spoke in their own defence but called no witnesses.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Olalekan Olatawura described the defendants as dangerous criminals with a history of serious offending. “From the confessional statement of the first, second and third defendants, they are serial kidnappers, armed robbers and house breakers while Bunmi Ogunremi was an ex-convict,” the judge stated.
He added: “The society will be better off if persons of grave criminal disposition like these heartless defendants are perpetually kept away for good. In any event, the punishments for the offences charged are strict and permit no exercise of discretion.”
For conspiracy, the defendants were each sentenced to 21 years imprisonment. On the charge of illegal possession of firearms, Dele Jimoh received a sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of ₦20,000, while the others were discharged and acquitted on that count.
However, on the charges of kidnapping and murder, the court delivered the ultimate penalty: “The sentence of the court upon all the defendants is that they be hanged by the neck until they are dead; may God have mercy on your souls. The sentences are to run concurrently,” the judge pronounced.
