The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three suspects linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment.
Justice Salim Ibrahim, in his ruling, ordered that the sentences should run from the date the convicts were arrested, Channels TV reports.
Before the sentencing, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court for leniency, noting that they were first-time offenders who had pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
The defence counsel argued that their guilty pleas showed remorse and maintained that the offences for which they were convicted were not directly connected to the actual kidnapping.
The lawyer also told the court that the convicts were married with children and had elderly parents who relied on them for financial and other forms of support.
He therefore urged the judge to give the defendants “a second chance at life” by imposing a lesser sentence.
However, the prosecution opposed the plea for leniency, arguing that the convicts were aware of individuals involved in the criminal operation and, as responsible citizens, should have reported such information to the appropriate authorities rather than concealing it.
After considering the arguments from both sides, the court sentenced the three defendants to life imprisonment, with the sentences taking effect from the dates of their respective arrests.
