JUST IN: Kwara Court Sentences Two Bandits to Death by Hanging

The Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Thursday sentenced two bandits, Abubakar Sodiki and Abubakar Mohammed, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

The defendants faced six charges, including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, and illegal possession of firearms.

In addition to the death sentences for armed robbery, the court imposed life imprisonment for kidnapping and 10 years for illegal possession of firearms.

The victim, Alhaji Saheed Arowasi of Boniya in Baruten Local Government Area, told the court that the kidnappers initially demanded N100 million as ransom, which was later reduced to N10 million before his release.

Delivering judgment, Justice Ahmed Aliyu Gegele said the evidence clearly linked the defendants to the crimes. Statements from both the suspects and the victim at the police station were considered during the trial.

Before sentencing, the court allowed the defendants to make their allocutus. While Sodiki pleaded for leniency, Mohammed maintained his innocence. The court stressed that discretion could not override the law’s prescribed punishments.

Prosecution counsel, Muslimah Suleiman, argued that the charges were fully established, while the defence, led by Shu’aib Ibrahim, appealed for mercy for their clients.

Justice Gegele sentenced the defendants to death for armed robbery, life imprisonment for kidnapping, and 10 years for illegal possession of firearms, with the sentences to run according to the law.