An Ilorin High Court Judge has sentenced two persons to 22-year jail term for criminal conspiracy to commit kidnap, extortion and armed robbery.
Ajadi Oba AbdulRasheed and Ayeni Abayomi were involved in the kidnapping and extortion of the son of the former Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Aiodun, on February 4, 2010 in Ilorin.
Ajadi Oba AbdulRasheed was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment on the first and second charges of kidnapping and extortion and a fine of N100,000, while the Ayeni Abayomi bagged 10 years, also on the first and second charges of kidnapping and extortion, and a fine of N100,000.
The sentences are to run consecutively commencing from the day the judgment was delivered.
Delivering the Judgment in Ilorin, Justice Mahmud AbdulGafar said that two others that were connected with the offences, Rasaq and Yakubu AbdulRasaq, also known as Alfa Taiye, were still at large.
The Judge said he found the accused persons guilty of conspiracy to commit kidnap and extortion of Abiodun Abdulkadir Baraje, contrary to section 97 of the penal code.
Justice AbdulGafar disclosed further that the first and second accused persons were guilty of conspiracy and extortion of one 100,000 dollars from Bilikis Baraje ( wife of Biodun Baraje), as a result of threat that her husband, Biodun Baraje, would be killed if the said sum was not paid, which the Judge said was contrary to section 292 of the penal code.