An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Monday sentenced a 57-year-old Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Okubo Aboye and his mechanic, Niyi Ibrahim, 39, to life imprisonment for receiving the stolen vehicle from kidnappers.
Justice John Adeyeye also sentenced seven other persons; Solomon Ayodele Obamoyegun 39, Femi Omiawe 40, Damilola Obamoyegun 20, Bose Sade Ajayi 30, George Lucky 35, Chukwuma Nnamani 22, and Sunday Ogunleye,45, to five years imprisonment each without an option of fine for kidnapping.
In his judgement, Justice Adeyeye said, “Kidnapping people for ransom is very rampant in not only the state but in Nigeria as a whole. The court will be failing in its duty to protect the members of the society if adequate punishment is not given to the accused persons.”
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Felix Awoniyi told the court that the offence took place between 9th and 19th May 2005 at GRA, Ado Ekiti, when the 1st-7th accused armed with guns kidnap one Moses Ajogri, 40, and disposed him of his Toyota Hilux Van with Reg. No. APP 509 BK.
Awoniyi told the court that the vehicle was tracked to the compound of Aboye who on interrogation confessed that he bought the Hilux Van from his mechanic who received it from the kidnappers.
He added that the offence contravened sections 346 (2), 1(2)a, and section 5 of the Criminal Code Cap C16 Laws of Ekiti State, 2012 and Robbery and firearms special provisions Act, Cap R11, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.
To prove his case, he called 7 witnesses while exhibit tendered were statements of the accused persons and bond to release van to the owner.
The nine convicts spoke in their own defence through their counsels who promised to study the verdict and take the necessary step. (Tribune)