Self-Confessed Boko Haram Member In Ekiti State Sentenced To Death

By Ayodele Oni

A High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one self- confessed Boko Haram member, Abdulsalam Adinoyi, to death by hanging for killing a Police officer.

Justice Lekan Ogunmoye stated that the convict was found guilty of murder, terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms among other offences.

The offences, according to the prosecution, were committed between December 2016 and March 2017.

Justice Ogunmoye said “I hold that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the defendant, thus, implying his culpability in all the charges against him.

“The sole issue for determination is accordingly resolved in favour of the prosecution.

“The defendant is hereby found guilty as charged. He is accordingly sentenced to death by hanging in counts 1, 2 and 3, may Almighty God have mercy on his soul.

“He is also sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in count 4 and ten years imprisonment in count 5 with N10,000.00 as option of fine.”

Adinoyi was charged and arraigned on charges bordering on Armed Robbery, Murder, Terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms.

These are contrary to sections 1 (2) (a) and 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap C16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, also Sections 316 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012 and Sections 11 and 12 of the Ekiti State Kidnapping and Terrorism (Prohibition Law), 2015.

According to the charge, Abdulsalam Adinoyi who hails from Okene in Kogi State, between 22nd of December, 2016 and 20th March, 2017 while armed with gun, attacked and robbed Sergeant Gana Jiya and other Police Officers at Check Point in Oye Ekiti.

During the process, he murdered Sergeant Gana Jiya on the spot, while other Police Officers on duty sustained serious degrees of gun wounds and carted away two AK-47 Assaulted Riffle, launched terrorism attack on people of Ekiti State and his environs, confessed to be member of Boko Haram and unlawfully in possession of AK-47 Assaulted Riffle among others.

In his confessional statement, Adinoyi said, members of his group named Abu Uwais and Aminu a.k.a. Idi-Amin, now at large, were planning for an operation, when Police Officers came to his house, and when searched, the AK-47 Assaulted Riffle was recovered among other items.

To proof his case, the prosecutor, Gbemiga Adaramola called five witnesses including Police officers who were at the scene of the incident.

Exhibits tendered include, AK-47 Assaulted Riffle, statement of the defendants and the victims, photographs, Compact Discs containing Boko Haram trainings, 5 Sim Cards and packs, Flash drive, empty bullet shells, medical reports among others.

The defendant spoke in his own defense through his counsel and called no witness.