By Ayodele Oni
A High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, on Monday ended the career of a policeman, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Okubo Aboye. He was jailed for life as the law caught up with him.
The ACP was imprisoned for buying a stolen vehicle from an unreliable seller identified to be kidnappers.
Justice John Adeyeye, who delivered the judgement, also jailed Aboye accomplices, Ayodele Obamoyegun (39), Femi Omiawe (40), Damilola Obamoyegun (20), Bose Sade Ajayi (30), George Lucky (35), Chukwuma Nnamani (22) and Sunday Ogunleye (45).
Each of them bagged five years imprisonment without an option of fine for kidnapping.
Reports before the court indicate that the car was tracked down to the compound of ACP Okubo, who admitted during interrogation that he bought the vehicle from his mechanic who received it from the kidnappers.
The prosecutor, Felix Awoniyi, revealed that “the offence runs contrary to sections 346(2), 1(2)a, and Section 5 of the Criminal Code Cap C16 laws of Ekiti State, 2012 and Robbery and Firearms Special Provisions Act, Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Justice Adeyeye found the senior Police officer guilty and ruled that he should be sentenced to life imprisonment accordingly.
“I found you guilty of receiving a stolen vehicle. All evidence pointed to the fact that you were aware that the car was stolen.
“You are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for the offence,” he said.
“To prove the kidnapping case, the prosecutor called seven witnesses while exhibits tendered included statements of the accused persons and bond to release the vehicle to the owner.”
