Two fresh graduates in Ekiti State have been sentenced to a total of 30 years in prison by the Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, for kidnapping a Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) student, Atana Emmanuel, in March 2022.
The convicts, Ojo Babajide (31) and Olajide Nathaniel (35), were each handed 10 years for kidnapping and five years for conspiracy, with no option of fine. Justice Adeniyi Familoni, who presided over the case, said the sentencing was to serve as a deterrent as kidnapping continues to plague communities in the state.
According to court documents, the duo abducted the victim from his salon around 7 pm and took him to a hotel in Ado Ekiti, where they demanded a ransom of N1 million. The victim managed to raise N101,000 but was subjected to severe physical abuse when the full amount wasn't paid.
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“They made me transfer money for hotel lodging and flogged me when I couldn’t meet their demand,” Emmanuel told the court.
The prosecutor presented statements from both the victim and the defendants as evidence. The defense lawyer, Akinola Abon, pleaded for leniency, noting that the convicts were preparing for their NYSC at the time of the incident. However, the court ruled that justice must take precedence.
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