An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced four persons to death by hanging after finding them guilty of kidnapping and murdering a resident, Chief Ajayi Emmanuel.
The convicts were arraigned before Justice Olalekan Olatawura on September 1, 2022, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and illegal possession of firearms.
According to the prosecution, the defendants conspired on May 5, 2022, to kidnap Chief Ajayi Emmanuel from his residence along the Immigration Office area in Ado Ekiti before later killing him.
The prosecution also told the court that four cut-to-size single-barrel guns and 13 live cartridges were recovered from the suspects during investigations.
During the trial, a police officer, Sergeant Oladele Ayodeji, testified that one of the suspects, Akeem Banjo Adebayo, was first arrested during a robbery operation in Ekute, Ado Ekiti.
According to the officer, the suspect later confessed to being a kidnapper and identified other members of the gang, leading to further arrests.
He also told the court that a search of one of the suspects’ residences led to the recovery of locally made firearms, live ammunition and other items used as evidence during the trial.
To support its case, the prosecution presented two witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including the defendants’ confessional statements, firearms, a medical report, a video disc and other relevant documents.
The defendants testified in their own defence through their lawyers but did not call any witnesses.
Delivering judgment, Justice Olatawura described the convicts as habitual criminals whose continued presence in society posed a serious threat.
“From the confessional statements of the first, second and third defendants, they are serial kidnappers, armed robbers and house breakers, while Bunmi Ogunremi was an ex-convict. The society will be better off if persons of grave criminal disposition like these heartless defendants are perpetually kept away for good,” the judge said.
He noted that the law prescribed strict punishment for the offences, leaving the court with little discretion.
On the charge of conspiracy, each of the four defendants was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.
On the charge of illegal possession of firearms, Dele Jimoh was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and fined ₦20,000, while the other defendants were discharged and acquitted on that count.
For the offences of kidnapping and murder, the court sentenced all four convicts to death by hanging.
“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,” Justice Olatawura ruled.
The judge ordered that all the sentences run concurrently.
