The Ondo State High Court, sitting in Akure, the Ondo state capital has sentenced the abductors of the Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Chief Olu Falae to life imprisonment for kidnapping and armed robbery.
Falae was abducted by some Fulani herdsmen during his 77th Birthday on September 21, 2015 at his Ilado farm in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
He was released after paying N5million ransom four days after his abduction.
The convicts were: Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibrahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal and two others.
Charges against them read: “That you, Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did give information for the purpose of kidnapping and abducting Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae.
“Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did aid the kidnapping and abduction of Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae.
“Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did Kidnapped Chief Oluyemi Falae, the Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and did not release him until N5,000,000 ransom was paid.
“Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did conspire to commit a felony to wit armed robbery.
“Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did rob Chief Olu Falae of N15, 000 and his handset while armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons”.
The offence, according to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mrs. Adeyemi Kuti from Ondo State Ministry of Justice is contrary to Section 2 of Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 5(1)(a) of the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Laws, Section3(11)(b) of the Anti-Kidnapping and Abduction Law, Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms(Special Provision) Act,Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act,Cap R11, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
However, when the charge sheet was read to the convicts in court on the first date of their arraignment, they all pleaded not guilty to the five counts charge leveled against them.
However, when the case came up yesterday for judgement after several adjournments, the Presiding Judge, Justice Williams Olamide said he was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the convicts committed the crime with the evidence tendered before him.
Justice Olamide also said that during the hearing of the matter, the victim, Chief Olu Falae was able to identify three of the convicts as those who kidnapped him and threatened to kill him if he failed to pay the ransom when he was in their captivity.
He thereafter sentenced seven of them to life imprisonment.
The Prosecution Counsel, Mrs Adeyemi Kuti hailed the judgment, saying justice has been given to the victim.
But, counsel to the seven convicts, Abdulrahman Yusuf from the Legal Aid Council (LAC)said he would obtain the judgment, study it,to determine whether to Appeal the judgement or not.
