Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Bauchi state High Court 1 has sentenced four persons to 45 years imprisonment each in the state for robbery and kidnapping of two persons in Bauchi.
The four convicts, Abdullah Abubakar, Ismail Musa, Usman Isah and Umar Abdullahi were convicted and sentenced by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Umar.
They were convicted and found guilty on a three count charge of criminal conspiracy, robbery and kidnapping.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Barr. A.S Gumba Esq told the court that the suspects stormed the residences of one Alh. Bashir Bukar and Alh. Sha’aban Mohammed of Rimin Zayam in Toro Local Government Area of the state in 2018 at about 1:30 am.
He stated that both the victims were robbed of cash and other valuables worth the sum of N1 million and also kidnapped the son of Alh. Bukar and the daughter of Alh. Mohammed and took them to an unknown destination.
According to him, the suspects later demanded and collected the sum of N1.4million as ransom from the two victims before releasing the hostages.
Delivering the judgement on Wednesday, justice Umar, said their actions contravenes Section 4(1) of the Kidnapping, theft of cattle and Rape (Special provision) Law, 2017, Section 3 (2), of the (Kiddnapping, theft of Cattle and Rape (special provision) Law, 2017 and Section 1(2) of the Robbery and fire arms special provisions Act LFN 2004.
“That you, Abdullah Abubakar, was found guilty and hereby sentenced to 45 years imprisonment for the offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping with effect from 1st January ,2019.
“That Ismail Musa, was found guilty and hereby sentenced to 45 years imprisonment for the offenences of criminal conspiracy, Armed Robbery and Kidnapping with effect from 1st of January, 2019.
“You, Usman Isah is hereby found guilty and sentenced to 45 years imprisonment for the offences of Criminal Conspiracy, Armed Robbery and kidnapping with effect from 1st of January, 2019.
“And that you, Umar Abdullahi, were also found and sentenced to 45 years imprisonment for the offences of criminal conspiracy, Armed robbery and Kidnapping, with effect from 14 January 2019”. Said the Chief Judge.