An Ekiti High Court, Monday, sentenced an Assistant Commissioner of Police and his mechanic to life imprisonment for buying a stolen vehicle from kidnap suspects.
The court 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 their testimony, the investigating police officers said the car was tracked to the compound of ACP Akubo Aboye, 57, who on interrogation confessed that he bought the Hilux van from his mechanic, Niyi Ibrahim Afolabi, 39, who got it from the suspected kidnappers.
The offence runs contrary to 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.
In his judgment, Justice John Adeyeye found the two accused persons guilty and accordingly sentenced them to life imprisonment.
To prove the kidnapping case, Felix Awoniyi, the prosecutor called seven witnesses while exhibits tendered include statements of the accused persons and bond to release van to the owner.
The offence, according to the charge, was committed on or about 9th -19th day of May 2005 at GRA, Ado Ekiti, when the 1st -7th accused, armed with guns kidnapped one Moses Ajogri, 40, and robbed him of his Toyota Hilux van with Reg. No. APP 509 BK.
The nine accused persons spoke in their own defence through their counsels who promised to study the verdict and take necessary steps.
Delivering the judgment, Justice John 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.”
