An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced two men, Onileowo Rotimi and Adetola Ayodele, both aged 42, to death by hanging after they were found guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping. The court also handed them a life sentence for conspiracy.
The case, which dates back to an incident on October 7, 2016, revealed that the two men, alongside others who were not present in court, broke into the home of one Mrs. Ajibola Oyelola at Abuta, Omuo Ekiti. According to the charge brought against them, the convicts robbed her and also abducted her during the operation.
Court records show that they were tried on a three-count charge involving conspiracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping. Their actions were said to be in violation of Sections 516, 402, and 403 (A) of the Ekiti State Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, 2012, and Section 3 (a)(b) of the Ekiti State Kidnapping and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, 2015.
During her testimony, Mrs. Oyelola told the court: “I was cooking in the kitchen around 8.30pm, suddenly I saw five gunmen in the living room, they asked of my husband, they said he offended their boss and they are here 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 lay face down at the back seat. Before I entered the car, I saw my gateman where his hands and legs were tied with rope. I was taken to an unknown place inside bush, I was with them for eight days.
“They called my husband on the fourth day and demanded for a ransom of N40m, 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 the time in the bush, I saw their faces clearly.”
The prosecuting counsel, Akinola Abon, presented four witnesses and submitted the confessional statements of the defendants as part of the evidence.
The defence, however, called no witnesses. The two men reportedly met and became friends while serving time in prison before committing the crimes they were charged with.
Justice Bamidele Omotoso, in delivering the judgment, noted that the prosecution had successfully proven the allegations beyond reasonable doubt. He declared the duo guilty on all counts.
“For kidnapping, 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 ruled.
