On Monday, May 11, 2015, two men in their middle ages have been put behind bars for a period of 31 years for kidnapping a friend by name Omosebi Oluwafemi, who happens to be a mariner.
The two convicted criminals, Sunday Akala, 35 years of age and his accomplice Monsuru Odutan aged 38, were sentenced to jail by Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja.
The two convicts alongside Tunde Fayomi, a 32-year old second defendant of the case who died while on trial, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and kidnapping of Oluwafemi.
Akala, who has already bagged a masters degree, was revealed to have arrange with Odutan and others to kidnap Oluwafemi claiming he was in need of money for the payment of his house rent and the victim was not willing to assist.
One of the charges read against them read thus: “Sunday Akala (M), Tunde Fayomi (M), Monsuru Odutan (M) and others still at large on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 around 2200hrs at Abule Egba, in the Ikeja judicial division, while armed with a dangerous weapon to wit: a jack knife presented in form of a pistol, robbed Omosebi Oluwafemi Adewumi of N1.3 million, a wristwatch valued at N6,500, another wrist wristwatch in the tune of N2,000, a Blackberry Storm 2 smartphone valued at N100,000, a black Italian trouser and belt valued at N7,000 and Nokia 3 Sim phone walued at the sum of N10,000.”
Hafeez Owokoniran, the principal state counsel stated that these offences contradicted Section 492 (2) of the Criminal Code Law Cap C C.17 Volume 2 Lawa of Lagos State.
Justice Okunnu while giving her verdict mentioned that the statement of Akala and Odutan were not obtained under duress, and the prosecution was able to prove it beyond every reasonable doubt.
She further held that the prosecution was not able to show evidence of whether the offensive weapon used by the convicts was a gun, but noted that by the evidence given, there was definitely a robbery and not armed robbery.
He said, ‘I have considered carefully the facts of this case.
‘As I have always said, it is for the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt. Judging by the evidence, I find that there was a robbery where money was collected from PW1 (Oluwafemi).
‘I find PW2 and PW3 as credible evidence. The prosecution has largely succeeded in proving its case. I hereby find them guilty of conspiracy, robbery and kidnapping of Oluwafemi,” the judge stated.
Subsequently, the judge asked the convicts if they had anything to say. While Odutan said he had nothing to say, Akala asked the court to have mercy on him.
After listening to the defence counsel, who urged the court to temper justice with mercy, the judge sentenced the duo to 21 years for conspiracy to commit robbery and 10 years for kidnapping.
“The sentences are to run concurrently,” the court stated.
