Tag: life imprisonment

Court sentences six herdsmen to life imprisonment for kidnapping

Six herdsmen have been sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping, by a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.

Justice Hannah Ajayi, on Friday, found the men guilty and convicted them of conspiracy, kidnapping, and illegal possession of firearms.

Those convicted after standing trial before the court for about five years included Tambaya Abubakar, Babuga Umaru, Shehu Umaru, Mojumba Bello, Abubakar Juli and Mamma Lawali.

The convicts had been accused of conspiring and kidnapping one Usman Mohammed while armed with two single-barrel guns at Osi in the Ekiti Local Government Area of the state in 2017.

The charge further revealed that the convicts took Mohammed into the bush where they demanded ransom and were paid N400,000 by the victim’s family.

The convicts, who pleaded not guilty to the charges during the trial, told the court through their separate counsel that they were Fulani who reared cattle and were always busy on their various farms attending to their animals.

The Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution, Abdulmumini Jimoh (SAN) expressed satisfaction with the verdict, adding that it would serve as a deterrent to others.

April 2, 2022
BREAKING: Evans sentenced to life imprisonment

An Ikeja High Court on Friday sentenced kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, to life imprisonment for the kidnap of Mr Donatius Dunu, the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi also sentenced Evans’s two co-defendants; Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, to life imprisonment for the same offences.

The judge, however, discharged and acquitted the other co-defendants, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, an ex-soldier; and Victor Aduba, also an ex-soldier.

The judge held that there was no evidence linking them to the crimes.

Sentencing the convicts, Oshodi said that they did not show any remorse for their crimes and had tried to “lie their way out of the charges” during the trial.

Oshodi noted that the Kidnapping Prohibition Law of Lagos State prescribed a mandatory life sentence for any individual found guilty of kidnapping.

“A lesson must be taught. In this respect, the law is the law which must be upheld.

“The first, second and fourth defendants- Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, are each hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.

“This is the sentence of the court,” he said.

This is the first judgment delivered in the five kidnapping trials Evans is facing at the various High Courts of Lagos State.

The defendants were arraigned before Oshodi on Aug. 31, 2017, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.

According prosecution, Dunu was kidnapped on Feb. 14, 2016, on Obokun Street, Ilupeju Road, Lagos.

He was shackled and blindfolded during his 88-day ordeal, and the convicts collected 223,000 euros as ransom from his family for his release.

The prosecution closed its on Jan. 10, 2020, after presenting four witnesses including Dunu.

Defence closed its case on Aug. 3, 2021, after the six defendants and Evans’s sister, Mrs Ndubuisi Obiechina, testified.

The offences are in violation of Section 2(1) of the Kidnapping Prohibition Law, No. 13, Laws of Lagos State, 2017.

February 25, 2022
Pastor sentenced to life imprisonment for raping, impregnating 14-year-old in-law

A pastor/businessman has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping and impregnating his 14-year-old in-law.

The 38-year-old Ofure Rey Siakpere was sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 19, by an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court.

Ofure was 35 at the time he committed the offence around March 2018 at his residence located at No. 10, Salaudeen Imam Street, Lagos.

In court, the minor recalled being overpowered and defiled at least 15 times by Siakpere who is married to her aunt.

Ofure Siakpere, who may now spend the rest of his life in jail, was quite active on Twitter before he was charged to court and jailed for rape.

January 24, 2022
Primary school teacher bags life imprisonment for defiling 5-year-old pupil in Jigawa

The Jigawa State High Court sitting in Kazaure on Wednesday sentenced a primary school teacher, Makasusi Sunusi, to life imprisonment for defiling a 5-year-old pupil.

The prosecution counsel narrated that Sunusi, who was the victim’s teacher, lured the pupil and raped her in the school at Kazaure town on 4th February 2021.

He said the suspect was arrested and charged to court for the offence of rape punishable under the Jigawa State Penal Code Miscellaneous Amendment, 2014.

The prosecution presented five witnesses and tendered a medical report to prove its case.

Presiding Judge, Justice Hussaina Adamu Aliyu said the prosecution counsel had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore found the accused guilty of the offense.

She sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment for the offence of rape as prescribed by Section 3 of the Jigawa State Penal Code Miscellaneous Amendment, 2014.

December 2, 2021
BREAKING: 19-year-old boy sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted robbery in Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, sentenced one Ademola Oluwaseun,19, to life imprisonment for attempted armed robbery

In his judgment, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said, although the convict was charged for offence of armed robbery, but evidence before the court only established offence of attempted armed robbery against him.

Ogunmoye said there was no evidence that he succeeded in stealing anything from his victim when he was caught.

The judge, however, said that the sole issue for determination had been resolved partly in favour of the prosecution.

“I reiterate that the defendant is convicted for the offence of attempted armed robbery. He is sentenced to life imprisonment,” the judge said.

The Prosecutor, Dolapo Oyewole, told the court the convict committed offence on May 6, 2017 in Idolofin area of Ado Ekiti.

Oyewole said the convict, armed with gun, robbed one Arowolo Suleiman of his Bajaj motorcycle with registration number (OGUN) LAR 223 VC.

According to him, Suleiman is a commercial motorcyclist in Ado-Ekiti.

The prosecutor called three witnesses and also tendered the motorcycle as exhibits

He said the offence contravened Section 402(2) of the Criminal, CAP. C16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.

Suleiman, while narrating his ordeal, told the court he conveyed Oluwaseun and one other now at large from Oke-Ila to Idolofin in Ado-Ekiti about 6:30 a.m.

Suleiman said on getting there, one of them pointed gun at him and commanded to lay face down inside a drainage.

The victim said before the convict could escaped with the motorcycle, he stood up and pushed them down from his motorcycle.

He said his shout for help attracted neighbours, who chased Oluwaseun and the other now at large, that led to the arrest of Oluwaseun while his accomplice escaped.

August 9, 2021
BREAKING: Baba Ijesha to be prosecuted, risks life imprisonment

The Lagos State Government has urged the state Police Command to charge embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, also known as Baba Ijesha, to court over the sexual abuse claim against him.

The counsel was given by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions which stated that Baba Ijesha may be sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty in court.

This was revealed in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos, Hon. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN).

The statement read, “It would be recalled that the Nigeria Police Force arrested Mr. Olanrewaju James (also referred to as Baba Ijesha) on account of various sexual abuse allegations. On the 30th of April, 2021, the Police forwarded the case file of COP v Olanrewaju James to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advise.

“After due consideration of the facts in the case file, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions issued legal advise on the 4th of May, 2021, which is to the effect that a prima facie case has been disclosed against Mr. Olanrewaju James and recommended he be charged under the following provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015:

“Section 135, Indecent Treatment of a child- punishable by 7 years imprisonment, Section 137- Defilement of a Child-, punishable by life imprisonment, Section 261- Sexual Assault by Penetration- punishable by life imprisonment, Section 262- Attempted Sexual Assault by Penetration, punishable by 14 years imprisonment and Section 263, Sexual Assault-punishable by 3 years imprisonment.

“Whilst the State would ensure that Mr. Olanrewaju James’s rights as enshrined in the Constitution are upheld, the Ministry of Justice would not relent in its efforts in ensuring that whoever sexually abuses any resident of Lagos State is speedily brought to book. It is instructive to note that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has been consistent in it’s efforts in protecting the vulnerable in our society and since the establishment of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team in 2014, it has till date prosecuted over 800 cases of Sexual and Domestic offenses.

“The Attorney-General hereby assures Lagosians and indeed Nigerians that in accordance with the DPP’s advise, charges would be filed accordingly.”

May 4, 2021
Court sentences Assistant Commissioner of Police to life imprisonment

A High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital has sentenced Assistant Commissioner of Police, Okubo Aboye to life imprisonment.

The Police ACP was sentenced to life imprisonment alongside his mechanic, Niyi Ibrahim Afolabi who sold a stolen vehicle from kidnappers in the state to him.

The Ekiti High 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.

The investigating Police officer testified that the car was tracked to the compound of ACP Akubo Aboye. The ACP on interrogation confessed that he bought the Hilux van from his mechanic who received it from the kidnappers.

The offence contravened 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, Felix Awoniyi, the prosecuting counsel noted.

Justice John Adeyeye who presided over the matter found the ACP guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment accordingly.

“I find you guilty of receiving stolen vehicle. All evidence pointed to the fact that you were aware that the car was stolen. You are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for the offence,” the justice said.

According to the charge sheet, the offence was committed on or about the 9th -19th day of May 2005 at GRA, Ado Ekiti. The kidnappers then armed themselves with guns and kidnapped one Moses Ajogri 40 and robbed him of his Toyota Hilux van with Reg. No. APP 509 BK.

January 18, 2021
BREAKING: Sotitobire founder, 5 others get life imprisonment

The Founder of the Sotitobire Praising Chapel, Prophet Babatunde Alfa has been sentenced to life imprisonment after he was found guilty by a High Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital over the disappearance of a child from in church.

Prophet Alfa was found guilty on a two-count charge of conspiracy as well as aiding and abetting kidnapping.

According to the presiding Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, the Prosecution Counsel proved beyond reasonable doubt as regards the evidence brought before the court.

Justice Odusola also accused the police of complicity in the entire episode.

TheNewGuru report that the Prophet and the other defendants had been on trial for months after one-year-old Kolawole Gold disappeared strangely from the church’s children’s department during a Sunday service on November 10, 2019.

Prophet Alfa who is the founder of the church, located at Oshinle quarters area of Akure was accused by the parents of the missing child over the mysterious disappearance of their son who has not been seen till date.

Meanwhile, the 7th defendant was discharged and acquitted after the prosecution counsel could not prove any case against him.

October 6, 2020
Teacher sentenced to life imprisonment, for raping, impregnating pastor’s 10-year-old daughter

A teacher, Omotayo Adanlawo, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping and impregnating the 10-year-old daughter of the General Overseer of his church.

Adanlawo was jailed by an Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure presided over by Justice Samuel Bola.

Justice Bola said Adanlawo did not give convincing evidence and testimony to prove his innocence.

The trial judge said the victim was a “witness of truth” because of the courage and precision in her testimony.

Adanlawo was said to have committed the offence at the victim’s house at Iju while she was alone and defiled her with a warning not to tell anyone else she would die.

The bubble burst when the victim could not walk properly and doctor’s examination revealed that she had been raped.

The victim was said to have revealed that it was her father’s spiritual son that was responsible for the rape.

Adanlawo was subsequently arrested and arraigned before Justice Bola on a one-count charge of rape punishable under section 358 of the Criminal Laws of Ondo State.

The prosecution led by a state counsel, Stella Adegoke, called five witnesses, but the defendant testified for himself.

Adanlawo, in his statement before the police, said he was battling hernia and was not medically fit to have sexual intercourse with the girl.

Justice Bola, in his judgement, said the prosecution proved there was penetration of the victim.

He said the defendant gave no medical report to prove his condition as well as any evidence to suggest he was in his house as claimed on the day of the incident.

He, therefore, sentenced Adanlawo to life imprisonment in line with Section 358 of the Criminal Laws of Ondo State.

August 15, 2020
Man bags life sentence for abducting Ondo monarch’s wife

An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced a man, Ekpemu John, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of kidnapping the wife of traditional ruler of Ikoya town in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state, Mrs. Grace Faduyile.

The convict, a member of a kidnap gang who abducted the monarch’s wife in 2017, was arrested by men of the state Police command.

A member of the gang was also killed by the Police while they were rescuing the victim.

John was later charged to court and arraigned on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping.

In the case that started two years ago, witnesses were invited while the counsels defended the case.

After hearing from both the prosecuting and the defence counsels, the trial judge, Justice Ademola Adegoroye, delivered his judgement, saying he observed that all the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses and John’s own statement to the Police indicted the convict.

The court held that the prosecution had proved the case of kidnapping against the convict beyond reasonable doubt.

He sentenced the convict to life imprisonment.

The judge, however, said the convict might receive state pardon if he is found to be of exemplary behaviour while serving his sentence.

December 22, 2019