An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, on Monday sentenced a 25-year-old man, Gabriel Emmanuel, to life imprisonment for kidnapping a monarch, Oba Adeniran Benjamin Omotayo, the Eleda of Eda-Ile in Ekiti East Local Government Area of the state.
Emmanuel, who was arraigned on March 8, 2023, on a three-count charge bordering on murder, kidnapping, and demanding property with menace with intent to steal, committed the offences in 2020 and 2021.
The charge stated: “That Gabriel Emmanuel and others at large, on 13 September 2020, at Umesi Quarters, Igirigiri Road, Odo-Ado Ekiti, did murder one Jejelowo Fesobi David.
“That on June 24, 2020, at Eda-Ile Ekiti, the defendant did kidnap the Eleda of Eda-Ile, Oba Adeniran Benjamin Omotayo.
“That on November 20, 2021, the defendant and others at large at Ilumoba Ekiti did demand the sum of N4m with menace, with intent to steal, from one Barrister Joseph Olorunfemi.
“The offences are contrary to Sections 319(1) and 316 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, and Section 3 of the Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, 2015,” the charge read.
In his statement to the police, Oba Adeniran recounted how he was kidnapped while on his farm.
“Suddenly, I saw some men, all armed with AK-47 rifles. Before I knew what was happening, one of them pointed a gun at me, and I was kidnapped. My wife, who was with me at the time, was released and instructed to go and look for money, or else they would kill me,” the traditional ruler narrated.
“I was held captive for four days before one of my brothers brought a ransom of N1.28m, after which I was released. While I was with them, they used my wife’s phone to contact my relatives. At one point, the phone battery went flat, so they called someone from town, who brought a charged battery. I could not see his face because he was masked, but I was able to recognise the kidnappers because they removed their masks whenever they wanted to smoke.
“Upon my release, I went to the Rapid Response Squad office of the Nigeria Police in Ado Ekiti to make a formal report.”
The prosecutor, Ibironke Odetola, called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement, the victim’s statement, and a printout of the call logs, among other exhibits.
However, the defendant, represented by his counsel A.G. Anofi, did not call any witnesses.
In his judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye said: “The phone call logs are corroborated by the evidence of the complainant’s witnesses, while the content of the defendant’s confessional statements is consistent with the facts established by the prosecution witnesses. The statements were made voluntarily by the defendant.
“In all, I find that the complainant has established the elements of the offences of kidnapping and demanding property with menace with intent to steal. He is found guilty as charged and accordingly convicted.
“For the offence of kidnapping, the defendant is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment. He is also sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for demanding property with menace with intent to steal,” the judge pronounced.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
