Two sentenced to death by hanging for kidnapping NYSC staff in Ekiti

Two sentenced to death by hanging for kidnapping NYSC staff in Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court has sentenced two men to death by hanging after finding them guilty of kidnapping a staff member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in a landmark judgment aimed at tackling the growing menace of kidnapping in Nigeria.

The convicts, Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar, were convicted by the Ekiti State High Court I sitting in Fajuyi, Ado-Ekiti, in suit number HAD/124C/2022. However, the court discharged and acquitted a third defendant, Usman Abubakar, after ruling that the prosecution failed to prove his involvement in the crime beyond reasonable doubt.

The case stemmed from the abduction of Omoboade Adesina, a staff member of the NYSC in Ekiti State, on April 22, 2022. According to court proceedings, armed kidnappers abducted Adesina after killing her husband, Taiwo Adesina, during an attack on their farm in Ado-Ekiti before taking her to an undisclosed location.

During her captivity, the kidnappers reportedly demanded a ₦10 million ransom from her family. Following negotiations, the family paid ₦3.25 million, leading to her eventual release.

Following the incident, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) launched an intelligence-driven investigation that led to the arrest of the suspects and their subsequent prosecution before the High Court.

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Delivering judgment, Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, held that the prosecution successfully established the guilt of Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Ogunmoye said the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence linking the convicts to the kidnapping, including witness testimonies, an identification parade conducted by the DSS and the analysis of Call Data Records (CDRs), which placed the defendants in contact with the crime.

The judge commended the professionalism, diligence and investigative efforts of the DSS prosecution team, noting that the quality of evidence presented before the court played a crucial role in securing the conviction.

Consequently, the court sentenced Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar to death by hanging, the maximum punishment prescribed under the relevant Ekiti State kidnapping law.

Justice Ogunmoye, however, ruled that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence connecting Usman Abubakar to the offence. He therefore discharged and acquitted him of all charges.

The judgment represents another major legal victory for the DSS in its sustained campaign against kidnapping, terrorism and other violent crimes across Nigeria.

The conviction follows a series of recent successful prosecutions secured by the security agency, including the sentencing of three men to death by a Sokoto State High Court over terrorism and cross-border arms trafficking, as well as the conviction of a kidnap suspect in Kogi State.

Reacting to the judgment, the DSS reiterated its commitment to deploying intelligence-led investigations to dismantle criminal networks and ensure that perpetrators of kidnapping and other violent offences are brought to justice.

Security experts say the ruling sends a strong message that courts are prepared to impose the full weight of the law on individuals convicted of kidnapping, a crime that has continued to threaten lives, public safety and economic activities across many parts of Nigeria.

The judgment is also expected to strengthen public confidence in the criminal justice system while reinforcing ongoing efforts by security agencies to curb the rising wave of kidnapping, banditry and violent crimes nationwide.

Two sentenced to death by hanging for kidnapping NYSC staff in Ekiti