Kwara Court Delivers Death Sentence to Two Suspected Terrorists for Multiple Crimes
In a landmark ruling, the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced two convicted bandits, Abubakar Sodiki and Abubakar Mohammed, to death by hanging. The judgment, delivered by Justice Ahmed Aliyu Gegele on Thursday, found the defendants guilty of a series of grave offences, including armed robbery, kidnapping, and illegal possession of firearms.
Details of the Charges and Court Proceedings
The convicts faced a six-count charge that encompassed criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, and unlawful firearm possession. Justice Gegele ruled that the prosecution, led by counsel Muslimah Suleiman, had successfully established the charges beyond reasonable doubt based on witness testimonies and documentary evidence presented during the trial.
During the proceedings, the victim, Alhaji Saheed Arowasi from the Boniya community in Baruten Local Government Area, provided a harrowing account. He testified that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N100 million before reducing it to N10 million, ultimately releasing him after negotiations. This testimony played a crucial role in confirming the suspects' direct involvement in the criminal activities.
Sentencing and Legal Arguments
In addition to the death sentence for armed robbery, the court imposed further penalties: life imprisonment for kidnapping and 10 years imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms. Before sentencing, the defendants were allowed to make an allocutus. The first defendant pleaded for leniency, while the second maintained his innocence, but Justice Gegele emphasized that the court's discretion could not override the prescribed legal punishments once guilt was proven.
Defence counsel Shu'aib Ibrahim appealed for mercy during sentencing, but the judge upheld the severity of the crimes. The case, which commenced on April 29, 2025, concluded after final written addresses were adopted on July 30, 2025, leading to the recent judgment.
Appeal Process and Execution Requirements
Following the verdict, a court official confirmed that the convicted persons retain the right to appeal within 90 days. Until all legal remedies are exhausted, the sentence cannot be carried out. A legal practitioner monitoring the proceedings explained that even after a death sentence is passed, execution requires the state governor to sign a death warrant. If the convicts fail to appeal or if their appeal fails, the Governor of Kwara State may consider signing the warrant in accordance with Nigerian law.
This case highlights the judiciary's firm stance on terrorism-related crimes in Nigeria, underscoring the legal processes involved in such high-profile convictions.
