NIGERIA: TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KIDNAPPING, ARMED ROBBERY IN KWARA

March 10, 2026:

Justice Ahmed Aliyu Gegele of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on March 5, 2026 sentenced two men to death by hanging for kidnapping and armed robbery, among other offences.
The convicts, Abubakar Sodiki and Abubakar Mohammed, were found guilty of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms.
The court held that the evidence presented clearly established their involvement in the crimes.
One of the victims, Alhaji Saheed Arowasi of Boniya in Baruten Local Council of the state, had earlier narrated his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers while testifying before the court. He said the abductors initially demanded a ransom of N100 million, but after negotiations the amount was reduced to N10 million before he was released.
The judge also admitted statements made by the defendants and the victim at the police station as part of the evidence considered in the case.
On the charge of illegal possession of firearms, Justice Gegele convicted them under counts three and four.
The prosecuting counsel, Muslimah Suleiman, had earlier argued that the charges against the defendants were sufficiently established by the evidence presented before the court.
Before sentencing, the court invited the convicts to make their allocutus. Their counsel, Shu’aib Ibrahim, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy. While the first defendant begged for leniency, the second defendant maintained that he knew nothing about the allegations and urged the court to discharge and acquit him.
The prosecution, however, told the court that it was not aware of any previous criminal record against the defendants.
In his ruling, Justice Gegele said he had carefully considered the allocutus of the defendants but noted that the court could not exercise discretion where the law clearly prescribed punishment for the offences.
He sentenced the defendants to death by hanging on counts one and two relating to armed robbery. On the charge of illegal possession of firearms, the court sentenced them to 10 years’ imprisonment, while they were also handed life imprisonment for kidnapping.
The judge said the sentences would run in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Reacting, the first defendant’s counsel, Ibrahim, asked the court to make a certified copy of the judgment available to enable the defence study it and decide on the next line of action.
The case, which commenced on April 29, 2025, had its final addresses adopted on July 30, 2025, before judgment was delivered on March 5.