BY AUSTIN AJAYI, YOLA – A Yola High Court presided over by Justice Nathan Musa has sentenced three kidnap kingpins to 50 years imprisonment each for conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of fire arms.
Three accused persons that were convicted include; Lai Musa, Buba Sadiki and Shanu Kori as 1st, 2nd and 4th defendant respectively pleaded guilty to a four-count charged brought against them by the state.
In count 1, the defendants were accused of having conspired to commit kidnapping, contrary and punishable under section 249(1) of the Adamawa state penal code laws 2018.
Count 2, stated that the defendants on the July 6, 2020 in Yolde Pate, Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa state entered the house of Aliyu Suleman by climbing the fence contrary and punishable under section 343 of the Adamawa state penal code laws 2018.
Count 3, that the defendants on July 6, 2020, in Yolde Pate, Yola South LGA, Adamawa state kidnapped one Aishatu Aliyu Suleman with her one year old son Mohammed Aliyu Suleman and took them to Chambaji hills where they were kept for two days until a ransom of one million and ten thousand naira (N1,010,000) was paid contrary to section 248(a) and punishable under section 248(b) of the Adamawa state penal code laws 2018.
In count 4, the defendants had unlawful possession of fire arms contrary to and punishable under section 399 of Adamawa state penal code laws 2018.
Delivering judgement, Justice Nathan Musa said kidnapping has become one of heinous crime in the country today.
The trial judge further said that the court must play its part to check this rising crime of kidnapping in our society.
Justice Musa noted that the crime is not only against the law but also against humanity, stressing that there is no way the convict will be treated with mercy.
The Judge there after convicted the accused and sentenced the 1st and 2nd convict to 20 years each in Count 1, 2 to one year each and in Count 3, to 50 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
However, the 4th accused person was sentenced to 10 years in Count 1, after he pleaded for mercy and sentenced to one year in Count 2, while in bagged 50years imprisonment in Count 3. The sentences are however to run concurrently.
Earlier, counsel to the 4th accused, Shanu Kori withdraw his representation for accused on professional grounds.
