Reasons Four Men were Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for in Ekiti
An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has handed down life sentences to four men convicted of kidnapping a 75-year-old woman in Ikere Ekiti. The convicted individuals are Adeoye Sunday, Adewusi Dare, Bamigboye Damilola, and Ogunlayi Seun. Each of them also received a five-year sentence for conspiracy.
The fifth defendant, Ojo Tope, was acquitted of all charges.
The case involved the kidnapping of Madam Florence Popoola on September 14, 2017. The victim was abducted from her home in Ikere Ekiti and held in a forest between Eyio and Awo-Ekiti for four days before being released after a ransom of N1.5 million was paid.
The five defendants faced charges including conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, kidnapping, and conspiracy to kidnap.
Julius Ajibare, the Director of Public Prosecutions for Ekiti State, argued that the defendants’ actions violated the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act and the Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law. Ajibare presented four witnesses and eight exhibits during the trial.
The defense, represented by lawyers Chris Omokhafe and Sunday Ochai, did not call any witnesses.
Justice Lekan Ogunmoye found that the prosecution had proven the charges of conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, the court sentenced the four convicted men to life imprisonment for kidnapping and five years for conspiracy to kidnap, but acquitted them of charges related to armed robbery. Ojo Tope, the fifth defendant, was acquitted and discharged on all counts.
