Two people has been sentenced to death by hanging on Monday for armed robbery and kidnapping by an Ekiti State High Court in the Ado Ekiti Division.
For conspiracy, the court additionally sentenced them to life in prison.
Onileowo Rotimi, 42, and Adetola Ayodele, 42, were found guilty on three counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping by the court.
According to the allegation, the defendants planned to rob Mrs. Ajibola Oyelola on October 7, 2016, at Abuta Omuo Ekiti, and they also planned to kidnap the victim on the same day and at the same location.
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, 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 8.30pm, 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”, she said.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Akinola Abon, called four witnesses and tendered the statements of the defendants as exhibits.
The defendants, who spoke through their lawyer, confessed that they met and became friends in prison before they committed the crimes in question. They called no witness.
In the judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said, “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.
“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 pronounced.
