The High Court of Ekiti State, presided over by Hon. Justice A.L. Ogunmoye, on Monday sentenced four individuals to life imprisonment for their involvement in the kidnapping of a 75-year-old woman, Madam Florence Popoola. The convicts—Adeoye Sunday, Adewusi Dare, Bamigboye Damilola, and Ogunlayi Seun—were found guilty of kidnapping and were also sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy. A fifth defendant, Ojo Tope, was acquitted and discharged of all charges.
The kidnapping occurred on September 14, 2017, in Ikere-Ekiti, where Madam Popoola was abducted from her home and held in a forest between Eyio and Awo-Ekiti for four days. She was released after her family paid a ransom of N1.5 million.
Following their arrest, the four men were charged with conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, and conspiracy to kidnap under various provisions of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act and the Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law of 2015.
The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibare, called four witnesses and presented eight exhibits to support the case. The defendants, represented by their counsel Chris Omokhafe and Sunday Ochai, testified in their defense but called no additional witnesses.
After a thorough evaluation of the evidence, the court held that the prosecution had proven the charges of conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, the judge sentenced the four defendants to life imprisonment, bringing the case to a close.