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

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