The Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on Thursday sentenced two men, Abubakar Sodiki and Abubakar Mohammed, to death by hanging after finding them guilty of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, and illegal possession of firearms.
Justice Ahmed Gegele, who delivered the judgment, said the evidence presented in court firmly established the involvement of the two men in the crimes. “The law clearly prescribes the punishment for these offences, and the court cannot exercise discretion where justice demands a strict application of the law,” he said.
The defendants were also sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms and life imprisonment for kidnapping, with the sentences to run according to the provisions of the law.
During the trial, the first defendant pleaded for leniency, while the second claimed he had no knowledge of the alleged crimes and asked to be discharged and acquitted. Counsel to the defendants, Shu’aib Ibrahim, urged the court to temper justice with mercy. The prosecution, led by Muslimah Suleiman, argued that the evidence fully supported the charges and noted that neither defendant had any prior criminal record.
The case, which began on April 29, 2025, concluded with final addresses on July 30, 2025, before the judgment was delivered.
The victim, Alhaji Saheed Arowasi of Boriya in Baruten Local Government Area, had earlier testified that the kidnappers initially demanded N100 million as ransom but eventually accepted N10 million before releasing him.
The judgment marks the culmination of a high-profile case that has drawn attention to the state’s firm stance against violent crimes.
