Kwara High Court Sentences Two Men to Death by Hanging for Armed Robbery and Kidnapping.

Kwara High Court Sentences Two Men to Death by Hanging for Armed Robbery and Kidnapping.

 Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced two men, Abubakar Sodiki and Abubakar Mohammed, to death by hanging for armed robbery, following their conviction on multiple serious charges including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and illegal possession of firearms.Justice Ahmed Aliyu Gegele delivered the judgment on Thursday, March 5, 2026 (with some reports dated as March 6 due to publication timing), after the case concluded with final addresses on July 30, 2025. 

The trial began on April 29, 2025.The defendants faced a six-count charge brought by the prosecution. The court found them guilty, holding that the evidence—including confessional statements from the suspects and testimony from the victim—clearly established their involvement in the crimes.One key victim, Alhaji Saheed Arowasi from Boniya community in Baruten Local Government Area, testified that he was kidnapped by the defendants. He recounted that the abductors initially demanded a ransom of N100 million, which was negotiated down to N10 million before his eventual release after payment.Delivering the sentence, Justice Gegele imposed:Death by hanging on counts one and two relating to armed robbery.

 

Life imprisonment for the kidnapping charge.

10 years' imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms.

The sentences are to run in accordance with the law, with the death penalty prescribed under relevant provisions of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act and other statutes applicable in Kwara State.Before sentencing, the court allowed the defendants to make their allocutus (plea for mercy). The first defendant (Sodiki) pleaded for leniency, while the second (Mohammed) maintained his innocence. Justice Gegele emphasized that the court had no discretion to override the law's mandatory punishments once guilt was established beyond reasonable doubt.Prosecution counsel Muslimah Suleiman argued that the charges were sufficiently proven, while defense counsel Shu’aib Ibrahim requested mercy for the clients.Following the ruling, the defense team requested a certified true copy of the judgment to review and decide on the next course of action, which may include an appeal to a higher court.The case underscores ongoing efforts by Kwara authorities to combat banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery, which have plagued rural areas like Baruten in recent years. Kidnappings for ransom remain a significant security challenge in parts of northern Nigeria, often involving demands for large sums before victims' release.This is a developing story, with potential appeals likely to follow given the severity of the sentences. The Kwara State Judiciary has not yet released the full judgment text publicly.