The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment.
Justice Salim Ibrahim, who delivered the judgment, ordered that the life sentences should take effect from the date the convicts were arrested.
The convicts Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani were convicted for their roles in the school abduction.
The trio had pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them. However, the prosecution argued that they knowingly concealed information about those behind the kidnapping instead of reporting it to security agencies, thereby aiding the criminal operation.
During the sentencing hearing, counsel to the defendants urged the court to exercise mercy, describing them as first-time offenders who had shown remorse by admitting their guilt.
The defence also argued that the offences for which they were convicted were not directly related to carrying out the abduction itself.
The lawyer further pleaded with the court to consider that the convicts were married with children and had elderly parents who depended on them, urging Justice Ibrahim to give them a second chance through a lighter sentence.
The prosecution, however, opposed the plea for leniency, insisting that the defendants were fully aware of the kidnapping plot and failed in their civic duty to report those responsible to the appropriate authorities.
According to the prosecution, their decision to conceal vital information about the kidnapping contributed to the commission of the crime and warranted severe punishment.
After considering the arguments of both the prosecution and the defence, Justice Ibrahim sentenced the three men to life imprisonment, ruling that the sentence would take effect from the date of their arrest.
The judgment marks a significant milestone in the prosecution of suspects linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State and underscores ongoing efforts by security agencies and the judiciary to hold those connected with kidnapping and other violent crimes accountable.
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