The Ilorin Division of the Kwara State High Court sitting has sentenced a traditional ruler and two others to life imprisonment for conspiracy and kidnapping.

The convicts are the Sarkin Fulani of Kwara, Usman Adamu, his brother, and Gidaddo Idris.

They were tried and convicted of kidnapping Abubakar Ahmad in 2022, collecting N1 million as ransom before releasing him. Mr Ahmad was held hostage for 20 days.

The director of public prosecution (DPP), Idowu Ayoola, Messrs Adamu and Idris for conspiracy to kidnap and kidnap.

In her judgment, Justice Adenike Akinpelu held that evidence adduced by the prosecution proved that all three accused persons conspired to commit the crime.

According to her, the argument about whether or not they were physically present at the crime scene is immaterial. The judge said the convicts “supposedly arrested their victim claiming that he was a kidnap suspect to extort money from him.”

The judge added, “I am not persuaded by the submissions of counsel to the defendants to dismiss the two-count charge against them based on the fact that they were not at the scene of the incident.”

“It is saddening and disturbing that community leaders charged with the welfare of their subjects could, because of the love of money, breach the security of the same subjects. They are hereby found guilty as charged and are so convicted.”

After listening to the convicts’ allocutus, the judge declared, “By section 15 of the state Anti-kidnapping Law, the court cannot exercise any discretion of leniency. So, you are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment. The sentence is to run concurrently.”

The judge also ordered the convict to pay N600,000 to the kidnap victim as damages. 

(NAN)