Ekiti Court Jails Two Kidnappers 25 Years Each for Abducting NYSC Official’s Widow

By Joseph Sunday 

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced two men to 25 years imprisonment each for kidnapping the window of an NYSC’s widow.

Justice Lekan Ogunmoye convicted Ibrahim Abubakar, 44, and Abdulahi Abubakar, 41, after finding them guilty of abducting Omoboade Adesina in April 2022.

The two were arraigned alongside Usman Abubakar, 49, and Abdulazeez Alebiosu, 59, who died while the trial was pending. They were first brought before the court on October 4, 2022, on a three-count charge of conspiracy, murder and kidnapping, contrary to Sections 244, 234 and 279(1)a of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.

According to the charge, the defendants conspired to murder one Taiwo Adesina on March 9, 2022, at off Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado-Ekiti, and conspired to kidnap his wife, Omoboade Adesina, on April 22, 2022.

Testifying in court, Mrs Adesina, a staff of the NYSC in Ekiti State, told the court that gunmen attacked her late husband’s farm and shot him in the head. He was rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, where he was pronounced dead.

She said days after his burial, she returned to the farm with her son and brother-in-law when gunmen stormed the premises again.

“They jumped in through the fence, gained access and dragged me out. I was taken on a motorcycle to an unknown destination,” she said.

She told the court the kidnappers used her phone to demand a N10 million ransom, but her relatives were able to raise N3.25 million, which was paid for her release.

“I could see some of the gunmen’s faces clearly when I was in their captivity and recognized them when they were paraded by the police,” she added.

Prosecuting counsel, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called seven witnesses and tendered the defendants’ statements and MTN call logs as exhibits.

The defendants testified through their counsel, Chris Omokhafe, but called no other witnesses.

In his judgment, Justice Ogunmoye held that the victim did not mention the 2nd defendant, Usman Abubakar, in her testimony, and accordingly discharged and acquitted him on all counts.

The judge also held that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants conspired to kill Taiwo Adesina, and acquitted all the defendants on the counts of conspiracy and murder.

On the kidnapping charge, however, the court found Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdulahi Abubakar guilty, and sentenced each to 25 years imprisonment.