Court gavel
An Ekiti State High Court has sentenced two men, Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar, to death by hanging after finding them guilty of kidnapping a staff member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The judgment was delivered by the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, at the High Court in Ado-Ekiti.
The case arose from the abduction of Omoboade Adesina, an NYSC employee, who was kidnapped on April 22, 2022.
Investigations by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) led to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects.
After reviewing the evidence presented, the court held that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt against the two convicts.
However, a third defendant, Usman Abubakar, was discharged and acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence linking him to the crime.
Justice Ogunmoye praised the DSS for its thorough investigation, particularly the use of an identification parade and Call Data Record analysis, which proved crucial in securing the conviction.
The ruling highlights ongoing efforts by security agencies to strengthen intelligence-led investigations and ensure justice for victims of kidnapping and other violent crimes across the country.
