A significant ruling has been handed down by a High Court in Kwara, as Alh Usman Adamu, the Sarkin Fulani of the State, his brother, and one Gidado Idris were on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment.
The charges brought against them were conspiracy to kidnap and the act of kidnapping itself.
The victim, Sarkin Fulani, Abubakar Ahmad, was held captive for 20 days before a ransom of N1 million led to his release. This incident transpired in the middle of 2022, Parallel Facts gathered.
The case was presented before the court by Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Idowu Ayoola.
Justice Adenike Akinpelu, in her judgment, emphasized that all three convicts had conspired to commit the crime, and their physical presence at the scene of the kidnapping was not a determining factor.
Justice Akinpelu expressed her dismay at the actions of the community leaders, stating, “It is both saddening and disturbing that community leaders, entrusted with the welfare of their subjects, could breach the security of the same subjects for the love of money.”
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Despite pleas for leniency from the convicts, Justice Akinpelu referenced Section 15 of the Lead State Anti-Kidnapping Law, stating that the court was unable to exercise any discretion of leniency.
As a result, the convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment, with the sentences running concurrently.
In addition to the life sentences, the judge ordered a payment of N600,000 to be made to the victim of the abduction. #Sarkin Fulani