Court sentence seven Fulani herdsmen who kidnapped Chief Olu Falae to life imprisonment

Akure-LESS than two year after the former Secretary to
the Government of the Federation SGF, Chief Olu Falae
was kidnapped, seven Fulani herdsmen that were
involved in the act have been sentenced to life
imprisonment by an Ondo State High Court.
Suspected kidnappers of Chief Falae with their leader
Abubakar Auta holding N823,900 of the ransom in Akure
Delivering judgment Monday in Akure, Justice Williams
Olamide held that the suspects were guilty of the
kidnapping charge brought against them by the Ondo
state government.
The convicts include Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru
Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir
Umar and Babawo Kato.
Justice Olamide said “the recovered ransom, call logs,
and identification of the suspects by chief Falae indicted
them of complicity in the crime” and subsequently
sentenced them to Prison without an option of fine.
They were found guilty of kidnapping the elder
statesman on his farm in Ilado Village, Akure North Local
Government Area of the state in September, 2015.
The convicts were initially arraigned on a five-count
charge of kidnapping, abducting, aiding and abetting,
kidnapping, conspiracy and armed robbery.
The charge reads: “That you, Abubakar Auta, Bello
Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris
Lawal and others now at large, on or about Monday,
September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in
Akure Judicial Division did give information for the
purpose of kidnapping and abducting Chief Samuel
Oluyemi Falae.
“Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu
Muhammed and Idris Lawal, and others now at large, on
or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala
Community in Akure Judicial Division did aid the
kidnapping and abduction of Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae.
“Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu
Muhammed and Idris Lawal, and others now at large, on
or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala
Community in Akure Judicial Division did Kidnapped Chief
Oluyemi Falae, the Former Secretary to the Government
of the Federation and did not release him until
N5,000,000 ransom was paid.
“Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu
Muhammed and Idris Lawal, and others now at large, on
or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala
Community in Akure Judicial Division did conspire to
commit a felony to wit armed robbery.
“Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu
Muhammed and Idris Lawal, and others now at large, on
or about Monday, September 21, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala
Community in Akure Judicial Division did rob Chief Olu
Falae of N15, 000 and his handset while armed with
guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons”.
The offence, according to the Director of Public
Prosecution (DPP) Mrs. Adeyemi Kuti from Ondo state
Ministry of Justice is contrary to Section 2 of Anti-
Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 5(1)(a) of the Anti-
Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Laws, Section3(11)(b) of
the Anti-Kidnapping and Abduction Law, Section 6(b) of
the Robbery and Firearms(Special Provision) Act, Cap
R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and
Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special
Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Vol. 14, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The Judge however discharged them on two of the
charges of conspiracy and armed robbery.
Their counsel, Abdulraham Yusuf who said he would
obtain and study the judgment promised however to
challenge it at the appeal court.
Also, the director of public prosecution Adesola Adeyemi-
Tuki described the verdict as “justice well served”.
Chief Falae who was also a former Finance minister
spent three days in the custody of the kidnappers.
Ondo state government had to cough out N5milllion to
the kidnappers before the Afenifere leader was released.
His kidnap and treatment by the Fulani who invaded his
farmland drew criticism across the country.
Even after his ordeal in the hands of the Fulani
herdsmen, another group of Fulani herdsmen invaded his
farmland, kidnapped and killed one of his security guards
who was a member of the Oodua People’s Congress’s
OPC.