Two Graduates Sentenced to 30 Years for Kidnapping FUOYE Student in Ekiti

Law and Justice

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced two graduates to a combined 30 years in prison for the kidnapping of a student of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE). The convicts, 31-year-old Ojo Babajide and 35-year-old Olajide Nathaniel, received 15-year prison terms each—10 years for kidnapping and five years for conspiracy.

The duo, who were recent university graduates preparing for their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the time of the offence, were arraigned on July 19, 2022, for charges relating to conspiracy and kidnapping. The court found them guilty of conspiring to kidnap a FUOYE student, Atana Emmanuel, on March 23, 2022, in Oye Ekiti. The offences violated Sections 280 and 279 of the Ekiti State Criminal Law, 2021.

According to the victim’s statement to the police, he was attending to customers at his hair salon around 7:00 p.m. when the convicts approached and forced him into a waiting car. He was first taken to an undisclosed location in Oye Ekiti, and later transported to a hotel on Ikere Road in Ado Ekiti, where he was compelled to pay for the lodging via mobile bank transfer.

The kidnappers demanded a ransom of ₦1 million from the victim’s relatives, but only ₦101,000 could be raised. Frustrated, the convicts assaulted the victim, forcing him to strip and flogging him with a horsewhip, causing visible injuries. He was eventually released.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented one witness and tendered multiple exhibits, including the statements of both the victim and the defendants, as well as a bond for the victim’s release. The defence, represented by Akinola Abon, appealed for leniency, citing the defendants’ status as fresh graduates with no prior criminal records.

In delivering his judgment, Justice Adeniyi Familoni emphasized the gravity of the crime, noting that kidnapping remains a persistent threat to community safety. He condemned the convicts’ voluntary involvement in criminal activity, stating that “they cannot escape the consequences” of their actions.

Justice Familoni said the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others and imposed the full weight of the law—five years imprisonment for conspiracy and 10 years for kidnapping—without the option of a fine.