Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Kidnapping Ekiti Monarch
An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced a 25-year-old man, Gabriel Emmanuel, to life imprisonment for kidnapping Oba Adeniran Benjamin Omotayo, the Eleda of Eda-Ile in Ekiti East Local Government Area.
Emmanuel, who was arraigned on March 8, 2023, faced a three-count charge of m*rder, kidnapping, and demanding property with menace with intent to steal. The crimes were committed between 2020 and 2021.
According to the charge sheet:
- On September 13, 2020, at Umesi Quarters, Igirigiri Road, Odo-Ado Ekiti, Gabriel Emmanuel and others at large allegedly m*rdered one Jejelowo Fesobi David.
- On June 24, 2020, at Eda-Ile Ekiti, he kidnapped Oba Adeniran Benjamin Omotayo.
- On November 20, 2021, in Ilumoba Ekiti, he and others allegedly demanded N4 million from Barrister Joseph Olorunfemi with threats of violence.
The offences violated Sections 319(1) and 316 of the Ekiti State Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, 2012, as well as Section 3 of the Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, 2015.
In his testimony to the police, Oba Adeniran recounted his ordeal, explaining how he was abducted while on his farm.
“Suddenly, I saw some men, all armed with AK-47 rifles. Before I knew what was happening, one of them pointed a gun at me, and I was kidnapped. My wife, who was with me at the time, was released and instructed to go and look for money, or else they would kill me,” the monarch recalled.
