Four Men Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Kidnapping 75-Year-Old Woman in Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court has sentenced four men to life imprisonment for kidnapping a 75-year-old woman, Madam Florence Popoola, in Ikere Ekiti.

The defendants, Adeoye Sunday, Adewusi Dare, Bamigboye Damilola, and Ogunlayi Seun, were also sentenced to five years imprisonment each for conspiracy.

The court, however, discharged and acquitted the fifth defendant, Ojo Tope, of all charges. The defendants were tried for kidnapping Madam Popoola from her house on September 14, 2017, and keeping her in the forest between Eyio and Awo-Ekiti for four days until she was released after a ransom of N1.5m was paid.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibare, prosecuted the case and called four witnesses, tendering eight exhibits to prove the case. The defendants gave evidence in their defense but did not call any other witnesses.

Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, in his judgment, held that the prosecution proved the offenses of Conspiracy to Kidnap and kidnapping against the first to fourth defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

He convicted and sentenced them to life imprisonment for kidnapping and five years imprisonment for conspiracy to kidnap but acquitted and discharged them for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery.

The fifth defendant, Ojo Tope, was acquitted and discharged of all offenses.