By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 25-year-old man, Gabriel Emmanuel, to life imprisonment for kidnapping.

Emmanuel was arraigned before Justice Adekunle Adeleye on March 8, 2023, on a three-count charge of murder, kidnapping, and demanding property with menace with intent to steal.

According to the charge sheet, Emmanuel and others at large, on September 13, 2020, at Umesi Quarters, Igirigiri Road, Odo-Ado Ekiti, murdered Jejelowo Fesobi David. Additionally, on June 24, 2020, at Eda-Ile Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of the court, he kidnapped HRM Oba Adeniran Benjamin Omotayo, the Eleda of Eda Ile, the monarch of Eda Ile Ekiti.

Furthermore, on November 20, 2021, the defendant and others at large, at Ilumoba Ekiti, demanded the sum of N4 million with menace, intending to steal from Barrister Joseph Olorunfemi.

The prosecution stated that the offences contravened Sections 319(1) and 316 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, as well as Section 3 of the Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, 2015.

In his statement to the police, Oba Adeniran recounted the incident:

“I went to Abaojo, one of my settlements in Eda Ile Ekiti, when suddenly, I saw some men, all carrying AK-47 rifles. Before I knew what was happening, one of them pointed at me, and I was kidnapped. My wife, who was with me on the farm, was released and instructed to find money, or else they would kill me.

“I was held captive for four days before my brother brought a ransom of N1.28 million. While in captivity, they used my wife’s phone to contact my relatives. At one point, the battery died, and they called someone from the town to bring a charged battery. The person was masked, so I couldn’t see his face. However, I recognised the kidnappers because they unmasked themselves whenever they smoked.”

After his release, the monarch reported the case at the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) office of the Nigerian Police Force in Ado Ekiti.

To prove the case, the prosecutor, Ibironke Odetola, called four witnesses and presented evidence, including the defendant’s and victim’s statements and call log printouts. The defendant, represented by his counsel, A.G. Anofi, did not call any witnesses.

Delivering judgment, Justice Adeleye stated: “The phone call logs corroborate the evidence presented by the complainant’s witnesses. The contents of the defendant’s confessional statements align with the facts established by the prosecution witnesses and were made voluntarily.”

He concluded: “The prosecution has successfully established the elements of kidnapping and demanding property with menace with intent to steal. The defendant is found guilty as charged and accordingly convicted.

“For the offence of kidnapping, he is sentenced to life imprisonment, and for demanding property with menace, with intent to steal, he is sentenced to three years in prison.”