An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced 25-year-old Gabriel Emmanuel to life imprisonment for the kidnapping of Oba Adeniran Benjamin Omotayo, the Eleda of Eda-Ile in Ekiti East Local Government Area. The sentencing took place on Monday.
Emmanuel was arraigned on March 8, 2023, facing three charges: murder, kidnapping, and demanding property with menace with intent to steal. The crimes were committed in 2020 and 2021.
The charges stated that Emmanuel and others, still at large, murdered Jejelowo Fesobi David on September 13, 2020, at Umesi Quarters, Igirigiri Road, Odo-Ado Ekiti. The charges also indicated that on June 24, 2020, in Eda-Ile Ekiti, Emmanuel kidnapped Oba Omotayo, and on November 20, 2021, he and others demanded N4 million from Barrister Joseph Olorunfemi in Ilumoba Ekiti.
The offences violated Sections 319(1) and 316 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, as well as Section 3 of the Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, 2015.
In his police statement, Oba Omotayo recounted his harrowing experience of being kidnapped while on his farm. He recalled being ambushed by armed men, one of whom pointed a gun at him, and how his wife was released and told to find money for his ransom or risk his death. The monarch was held for four days before a ransom of N1.28 million was paid, after which he was released. During his captivity, the kidnappers used his wife’s phone to contact his relatives.
The prosecution, led by Ibironke Odetola, presented four witnesses, including the victim’s statement, the defendant’s confession, and phone call logs as evidence. The defense, represented by A.G. Anofi, did not present any witnesses.
In his judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye confirmed the consistency of the evidence, stating that the phone call logs supported the testimonies of the complainant’s witnesses, and the defendant’s confessions matched the facts presented by the prosecution.
Emmanuel was found guilty of kidnapping and demanding property with menace with intent to steal. For the kidnapping charge, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, and for the demand for property with menace, he received a three-year prison sentence.
