…as Chief Judge commends DSS for meticulous investigation
By Kehinde Jacobs
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced two men to death by hanging for their involvement in the 2022 kidnap of Omoboade Adesina, a staff member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.
Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, handed down the judgment on Wednesday after finding Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar guilty on counts of conspiracy and kidnapping. A third defendant, Usman Abubakar, was discharged and acquitted by the court due to insufficient evidence linking him to the crime.
The case, which dragged on for nearly three years, centered on the abduction of Mr. Adesina in 2022. According to court proceedings, the victim was seized by armed men who later demanded ransom from his family and colleagues. The incident sparked outrage across the state and drew the attention of security agencies, leading to a coordinated operation by the Department of State Services, DSS.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Ogunmoye held that the prosecution, led by DSS counsel, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against Ibrahim and Abdullahi Abubakar. The court noted that the evidence presented, including witness testimonies, call data records, and an identification parade conducted by the DSS, left no doubt as to the culpability of the two convicts.
“The prosecution was able to establish a chain of evidence that directly linked the first and second defendants to the abduction of the complainant,” Justice Ogunmoye said. “Kidnapping has become a menace that threatens the peace and security of our society. The law prescribes death by hanging for this offence, and I have no discretion but to apply it.”
The judge, however, ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Usman Abubakar. “In the absence of credible evidence connecting the third defendant to the conspiracy or the actual abduction, this court has no option but to discharge him,” he ruled.
In a brief remark after the judgment, Justice Ogunmoye commended the DSS prosecutors and investigators for the thoroughness of their work. He singled out the use of modern investigative techniques as pivotal to the outcome of the case.
“I must commend the diligence of the DSS operatives who handled this matter. The identification parade conducted to allow the victim identify his captors, and the forensic analysis of call data records that placed the defendants at the scene and in communication during the period of the crime, were crucial,” the Chief Judge said. “This is the standard of investigation we expect from our security agencies.”
The conviction has been welcomed by residents of Ekiti State and members of the NYSC community, many of whom have had to contend with rising cases of abduction along highways and in rural areas. Omoboade Adesina, who was reportedly traumatized by the ordeal, was said to have cooperated fully with investigators during the trial. Sources close to the case said the identification parade was a turning point, as the victim was able to positively identify Ibrahim and Abdullahi Abubakar as among the men who held him captive.
Legal analysts say the judgment sends a strong signal to criminal elements operating in the state and across Nigeria. Section 3 of the Ekiti State Kidnapping and Collection of Ransom Prohibition Law, 2015, prescribes capital punishment for anyone convicted of kidnapping. Since its enactment, Ekiti has recorded several death sentences for kidnapping, though executions remain rare due to Nigeria’s de facto moratorium on capital punishment.
The DSS, in a statement through its spokesperson, described the conviction as a victory for victims of violent crime and for the rule of law. “This judgment demonstrates that no matter how long it takes, justice will catch up with those who terrorize innocent citizens,” the statement read. The agency reiterated its commitment to working with the judiciary and other security agencies to ensure that perpetrators of kidnapping and other violent crimes are brought to book.
Many residents in Ado-Ekiti who spoke after the judgment said they felt safer knowing that those responsible for the 2022 abduction would not walk free.
As the convicts await the execution of the sentence, the case highlights the growing reliance on technology and forensic investigation by Nigerian security agencies. The use of call data analysis, once rare in state courts, is now becoming a standard tool in prosecuting kidnapping and terrorism cases.
For the family of Omoboade Adesina, the judgment brings closure to a painful chapter that began three years ago. For Ekiti State, it is another reminder that the courts remain a critical line of defense against violent crime.
