The Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, on Tuesday convicted three persons and sentenced them to death by hanging for the offences of armed robbery, rape, and kidnapping, among others. The offences were committed against one Mr Olubunmi Komolafe and his wife, Mrs Adeola Morenikeji, at their farm in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The trial judge, Justice Funsho Lawal, while handing down the judgment, revealed that the convicts, Patrick Afedia Adams, Tijani Usman and Ahmed Muhammad were sentenced on four counts bordering on conspiracy, rape, armed robbery and kidnapping.
The judge revealed that on 15th June, 2025, at Kangile village, via Kulende area, Ilorin, the convicts, armed with cutlasses and axe robbed the complainants of their valuables and also kidnapped them.
“Having been charged with the offence of conspiracy, they will all suffer the same punishments for the other count charge as armed robbery and kidnapping, except for Usman Tijani, who bagged 20 years jail term in addition for the offence of rape,” the court said.
For the armed robbery, the court sentenced them to life imprisonment, death by hanging for kidnapping and an additional 20 years imprisonment for the offence of rape on Usman Tijani.
According to the judge, the convicts, while holding their victims hostage during the operation, demanded payment of five million as ransom and ordered that it should be transferred into the wife’s account, which was done.
The judgment further disclosed that they demanded the wife’s account details in order to be able to withdraw the money, and only N4,000 was withdrawn as of the time of their arrest by the police.
Justice Lawal revealed that the prosecution was able to prove the case of rape beyond a reasonable doubt against the convicts with medical reports and other ingredients that corroborate the convict’s confession that he penetrated Mrs Adeola’s private parts.
The judge, however, informed the convicts that they have the right of appeal within the stipulated time by law.
The convict’s counsel, Adebayo, expressed satisfaction over the judgment, saying it’s a testament to the confirmation that the judge is thorough and that society will eventually be a safe place.
On her part, the prosecution leading counsel, Mrs Nagode, thanked the judge while expressing satisfaction over the verdicts, praying that God would grant him wisdom and health to dispense more landmark judgments on the bench.
Meanwhile, the convicts had earlier pleaded for mercy, saying they were all young with bright futures, promising not to commit any crime again if they were pardoned.
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