Chief Falae
Seven Fulani Herdsmen who kidnapped a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae in September 2015 were on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment by an Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure.
They were found guilty of kidnapping the elder statesman in his farm in Ilado Village, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
The convicts, who were initially arraigned on five counts of kidnapping, abduction, aiding and abetting, kidnapping, conspiracy and armed robbery, are : Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar and Babawo Kato.
Falae had spent three days in the kidnappers’ hideout and the sum of N5milllion was reportedly paid as ransom to the hoodlums.
President Muhammadu Buhari had intervened and ordered the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase to rescue the elderly statesman, which he did by personally leading a rescue team.
Justice Williams Olamide held that the seven accused persons were guilty of the kidnapping charge brought against them by the Ondo State Government.
He said the recovered ransom, call logs, and identification of the suspects by Chief Falae himself, indicted the convicts of complicity in the crime. He therefore sentenced them to Olokuta prison, Akure for life, without an option of a fine.
The Fulani herdsmen were however acquitted of the charges of conspiracy and armed robbery.
cpcnews.org 