An Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced four men to death by hanging after finding them guilty of kidnapping and murdering a resident of the state.
The convicted individuals are Jimoh Dele, 57; Ige Adu, 56; Ogunremi Bunmi, 53; and Ayeni Blessing, 32.
They were prosecuted on a four-count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, and unlawful possession of firearms in connection with the killing of Chief Ajayi Emmanuel on September 1, 2022.
During the trial, prosecuting counsel Kunle-Shina Adeyemo told the court that the defendants abducted the victim from his residence before killing him. He also informed the court that security operatives recovered four locally made single-barrel guns and 13 live cartridges from the convicts.
According to the prosecution, the offences violated Sections 516A, 3(a), and 319(1) of the Criminal Code Law of Ekiti State, 2012, as well as Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Prohibition) Act.
In his ruling, Justice Olalekan Olatawura said the confessional statements made by the first, second, and third defendants established that they were involved in repeated acts of kidnapping, armed robbery, and burglary. The court also noted that Ogunremi Bunmi had previously been convicted of a criminal offence.
Justice Olatawura held that the law prescribes a mandatory sentence for the offences, leaving the court with no discretion in determining the punishment. The four defendants were consequently sentenced to death by hanging.
