An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced four persons to death by hanging for the kidnapping and murder of Chief Emmanuel Ajayi.
The condemned persons are Jimoh Dele, 57; Ige Adu, 56; Ogunremi Bunmi, 53; and Ayeni Blessing, 32.
They were arraigned on *September 1, 2022, before Justice Lekan Olatawura on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, and unlawful possession of firearms.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants conspired to commit felony on May 5, 2022, along the Immigration Office area in Ado Ekiti.
The prosecution told the court that on the same day, the defendants abducted Chief Ajayi from his residence and subsequently murdered him. Four locally fabricated single-barrel guns and 13 live cartridges were also recovered from them.
The offences were said to be contrary to Sections 516A, 3(a) and 319(1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, and Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2001.
Testifying before the court, Sergeant Oladele Ayodeji of the Rapid Response Squad, Ekiti State Command, said the police received a report that Chief Ajayi had been abducted by armed men.
He added that another report later indicated that the victim was found dead by the roadside after allegedly falling from the boot of the kidnappers’ vehicle. The victim was first taken to a hospital near the Immigration Office and later transferred to ABUAD Multisystem Hospital, where he died from injuries sustained.
The prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called two witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including the defendants’ statements, a certificate of compliance, the recovered firearms, a video disc, and the medical report from ABUAD MSH.
Sergeant Ayodeji further told the court that one Akeem Banjo Adebayo, who later escaped, was arrested at a robbery scene in Ekute, Ado Ekiti, and had named Jimoh Dele and Ogunremi Bunmi as members of his gang. Other defendants were arrested at different locations. During a search, police recovered four cut-to-size single-barrel guns, 13 live cartridges, and some hair attachments concealed in a sack from Jimoh Dele’s residence.
The defendants testified in their own defence through their counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke and Olugbolaga Sunday. No defence witnesses were called.
In his judgement, Justice Olatawura held that based on the confessional statements of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, they were serial kidnappers, armed robbers and housebreakers. He noted that Ogunremi Bunmi was an ex-convict.
“The society will be better off if persons of grave criminal disposition like these heartless defendants are perpetually kept away for good,” the judge said. “The punishments for the offences charged are strict and permit no exercise of discretion.”
On Count 1: Conspiracy, the court sentenced each of the four defendants to 21 years imprisonment.
On Count 4: Illegal Possession of Firearms, Jimoh Dele was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of ₦20,000. The other three defendants were discharged and acquitted on that count.
On Counts 2 and 3: Kidnapping and Murder, the court sentenced all four defendants to death by hanging.
“The sentence of the court upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on your souls,” Justice Olatawura pronounced.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
