A High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, on Monday, sentenced two persons to life imprisonment and death by hanging for conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping.

The defendants, Rotimi Onileowo (42) and Ayodele Adetola (42), were arraigned before Justice Bamidele Omotosho on June 30, 2017, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping.

The charge read that the convicts, on October 7, 2016, at Abuta Omuo Ekiti, while armed with guns and cutlasses, robbed one Ajibola Oyelola. On the same date and place, they also conspired to kidnap the victim.

According to the charge, the offences are contrary to Sections 516, 402 and 403 (A) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, and also Section 3 (a) (b) of the Ekiti State Kidnapping and Terrorism (prohibition) Laws, 2015.

In her testimony before the court, the victim said, “I was cooking in the kitchen around 8:30 p.m.; suddenly I saw five gunmen in the living room.

“They asked of my husband, saying he offended their boss and they came to kill him and 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 lie face down in the back seat. I saw my gateman where his hands and legs were tied with rope. I was taken to an unknown place inside a bush.

“I was with them for eight days; they called my husband on the fourth day and demanded a ransom of N40 million 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 stay in the bush; I saw their faces clearly,” she concluded.

The prosecutor, Akinola Abon, called four witnesses and tendered statements of defendants as exhibits, while the defendants confessed to meeting and becoming friends in the prison before they committed the current offence; they called no witnesses.

In his judgement, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said, ” 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. 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,” the judge pronounced. 

(NAN)