Ekiti court jails three kidnappers 97 years for abducting Naval officer

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, on Monday sentenced three persons to 97 years imprisonment without options of fine for kidnapping, armed robbery and unlawful possession of offensive weapons.

They are Augustine Agbogbo, sentenced to 40 years, Adeniyi Olamilekan to spend 25 years in jail and Ademoh Gabriel, jailed for 32 years.

The court, however, discharged and acquitted three persons -Ogungbemi Gbenga, Monday Rakiya and Oseni Mutairu for failure of the prosecution to prove any of the alleged offences of conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery and unlawful possession of dangerous weapons against them.

The six defendants were arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Familoni on 11th August, 2023, on six-count bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery and unlawful possession of offensive weapons, among others.

The charge read that, “The defendants on 6th June, 2022 at Ayede Ekiti did conspire to rob one Ajibade Adeleke of N15,000, on 20th December, 2022 at Itapaji Ekiti; did rob one Lt Cdr Victoria Eisape (retd) of N40,000 and on the same date, time and place, did kidnap the victim. Also, on the same date, time and place, did kidnap Ajibade Adeleke, as at the time of the operations, they were armed with guns and cutlasses.”

The charge added that “also on 6th April, 2023, at Iyemero Ekiti, three long-barreled guns, 33 live cartridges and 56 expended cartridges without a license were found in their possession.

“The offences were contrary to Sections 47, 279, 280, and 312(2)(a) of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021,” the charge stated.

In her testimony before the court, one of the victims, Lt Cdr Eisape, a retired Naval officer, narrated how she, alongside Ajibade Adeleke, was kidnapped on Itapaji – Iyemero Road and asked to pay N70m ransom before her release on payment of N8m, adding, “I reported the matter to the police upon release.”

The prosecutor, Albert Adeyemi, called seven witnesses and tendered statements of the defendants, search warrant, three guns, 33 live cartridges, one military head warmer and expended cartridges as exhibits.

The defendants, who spoke in their own defence through their counsels, Chris Omokhafe and Olakanmi Falade, called no witness.

Delivering his judgement, Justice Familoni said, “I find Augustine Agbogbo, Adeniyi Olamilekan and Ademoh Gabriel’s retraction of their confessions to conspiracy and kidnapping of retd Lt Cdr Victoria Eisape and Ajibade Adeleke an afterthought. I therefore reject their testimonies in defense to the charges.

“It is my findings that the prosecution proved the offences of conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping against the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants and the offence of unlawful possession of dangerous weapons and firearms against the 3rd defendant. They are therefore convicted on the counts accordingly.

“However, the prosecution failed to prove the alleged offence of conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery and unlawful possession of dangerous weapons against the 4th, 5th and 6th defendants, Ogungbemi Gbenga, Monday Rakiya and Oseni Mutairu beyond a reasonable doubt, they are therefore discharged and acquitted on all counts in the charges”.

The judge, who said the incident of kidnapping across Nigeria appeared unabated despite genuine and concerted efforts being made to curb the vice, said that the three convicted persons deserved stiff punishment to serve as a deterrent to others with such inclinations and tendencies.

The judge pronounced, “Consequently, on count 1(Conspiracy) Augustine Agbogbo, Adeniyi Olamilekan and Ademoh Gabriel are sentenced to 10 calendar years imprisonment each. On count 2, the 1st and 2nd defendants are sentenced to 15 calendar years imprisonment each.

“On count 4, the 1st and 3rd defendants are each sentenced to 15 calendar years imprisonment. And on count 6, the 3rd defendant is sentenced to seven calendar years imprisonment.

“All the sentences are without options of fine and to run concurrently, with effect from the date the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants were arrested and remanded in custody.”(Punch)