AISHA ABUBAKAR
Two men, Abubakar Sodiki and Abubakar Mohammed, have been sentenced to death by hanging for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms in Kwara State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the judgment of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, which found them guilty and sentenced them accordingly.
While delivering the judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Gegele, held that the evidence before the court clearly established the involvement of the defendants in the crimes.
The trial judge, justice Gegele, noted that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and found them guilty of the offence. On the charge of illegal possession of firearms, Justice Gegele convicted the defendants under counts three and four.
The prosecution counsel, Muslimah Suleiman, had argued that the charges against the defendants were sufficiently established through the evidence presented before the court.
However, the counsel to the defendants, Shu’aib Ibrahim, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy. While the first defendant begged the court for leniency, the second defendant insisted that he knew nothing about the allegations and urged the court to discharge and acquit him.
The prosecution however, told the court that it was not aware of any previous criminal record against the defendants.
Justice Gegele said he had carefully considered the allocutus of the defendants but stressed that the Court could not exercise discretion where the law had clearly prescribed punishment for the offences.
He subsequently sentenced the defendants to death by hanging. On the charge of illegal possession of firearms, the court sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment, while for the offence of kidnapping, they were handed life imprisonment.
Justice Gegele held that the sentences would run in accordance with the provisions of the law.
The matter commenced on 29th April, 2025, had its final addresses adopted on July 30, 2025, before judgment was delivered.
The victim, Saheed Arowasi of Boriya in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, had earlier narrated his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers while testifying before the court.
He told the court that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N100 million, but after negotiations, the amount was reduced to N10 million before he was eventually released.