An Akure High Court sentenced four persons to life in jail for kidnapping a traditional leader in Ondo State in 2015.
Lucky Smart, Abraham Mike, John Felix, and Roson Anufa Amory were all found guilty of the crime.
However, due to a lack of evidence, Mr. David Ikpen, who was arraigned alongside the perpetrators, was discharged and declared not guilty.
According to the presiding Judge, Justice Aderemi Adegoroye, David Ikpen, who was the late kidnap gang leader’s driver, could not be held liable for his late boss’s actions.
On June 2, 2015, the criminals kidnapped Abdul Aliu and the regent of Akungba Akoko along the Ose-Owo highway and demanded N100 million in ransom.
They were also accused of abducting Ijeoma Susan Azubuike on May 31 and holding her hostage for N10 million.
According to Justice Adegoroye, the prosecution, Barr. John Olowookere and his team, had proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
He found four of the defendants guilty on charges two, three, and four of bothering on kidnapping and gave them life sentences. He gave them a five-year prison sentence with hard labour on count one of bothering on conspiracy to commit a felony.