In a recent verdict, the Osun State High Court in Ede sentenced Issa Ibrahim, a herdsman, along with Lateef Bello, Abdulrahman Soliu, Bello Ibrahim, and Jolaanabi Saheed to death for the kidnapping and murder of Issa’s father, Adamu Ibrahim, following the collection of a N3 million ransom.

The defendants faced charges of conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder, with Ajibola Shared, mother of Jolaanabi, later acquitted of involvement. Despite their pleas of not guilty, the Osun State Ministry of Justice’s prosecuting counsel, Moses Faremi, presented compelling evidence during the trial, including witness testimonies from two of the deceased’s sons and a police officer.

“They kidnapped Adamu from his house and took him to the house of Jolaanabi. They demanded for ransom of N10 million and later reduced same to N3 million which was paid and delivered at Sagamu in Ogun-State.

“While the deceased was in their den, the veil on his face fell off and he recognized his abductors after which they killed and dismembered his body and threw the parts into the Osun River to cover the crime.

“Issa, one of the convicts, who is the son of the deceased, told other gang members that his father did not give him his birthright, hence, urged them to kidnap him for ransom of either money or cow,” the prosecutor said.

Justice Kudirat Akano, in her ruling, upheld the prosecution’s case based on confessional statements and eyewitness testimony, sentencing the defendants to concurrent terms of 14 years imprisonment for conspiracy and kidnapping, and death by hanging for murder.