Three kidnappers of two Rev. Sisters to die by hanging

Three members of a gang of kidnappers behind the abduction of two reverend sisters, Perpetual Idowu Apo and Bukola Roseline Familade along with their driver Yohanna Zibai at Onipetesi along OreLagos Expressway in 2016 have been sentenced to death by hanging.

The gang had collected a ransom of N1 million before their release after spending 11 days in captivity.

This verdict followed their conviction by a High Court Judge, Justice Ademola Adegoroye, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

When the case started, seven persons including a couple and five others were arraigned before the court namely Reuben Akinbehinje (a.k.a Chairman), Saheed Oyewo (a.k.a Olaoluwa), Seun Lajuwomi (a.k.a Ebile), Abimbola Akinbehinje , John Imoleayo Uche (a.k.a Uchenna), Seun Iseoluwa Akintan (a.k.a Egbegbe) and Lateef Fayemi Hammed.

They were dragged to court on an eight count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery, aiding and abetting kidnapping and accessory after the fact.

One of the defendants, Saheed Oyewo, died in prison before the determination of the case.

While delivering judgement, Justice Adegoroye had found the first defendant, Reuben Akinbehinje, 5th defendant, John Imoleayo Uche and the sixth defendant, Seun Iseoluwa Akintan guilty of all the charges and sentenced them to death by hanging.

The wife of the first defendant, Abimbola Akinbehinje, facing a charge of being an accessory after the fact was fined N50, 000 as she had already spent two years in prison custody before she was released on bail.

The court had shown leniency on her after her defense counsel, Felix Afe, during allocutus, told the court that the wife was a first offender and they had little children as issues in the marriage.

The third and seventh defendants; Seun Lajuwomi and Lateef Fayemi Hammed were let off the hook as the judge said that the prosecution had no evidence against them.