Man bags 7-year imprisonment for kidnapping 4-year-old girl

Kidnapping

By Joy Akinsanya

Ilaro (Ogun) March 6,2020 (NAN) An Ilaro High Court in Ogun on Friday sentenced one Mr Ola Ibikunle to seven years imprisonment for kidnapping a 4-year-old girl.

The convict was found guilty of a a one count of child stealing.

In his judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Naheem Durojaiye said the court was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person committed the offence.

He held that the evidence presented by the prosecution was tenable and, therefore, sentenced Ibikunle to seven years imprisonment with hard labour.

The state counsel, Mr Kehinde Lawal, had during the trial told the court that the convict committed the offence on July 26, 2016 at Araromi area in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun.

According to Lawal, the convict kidnapped one Eniola Quadri, a 4-year-old girl.

“Eniola and the elder sister were on their way to church. But while the elder sister was trying to lock the door of the house, Eniola was going along the street.

“The convict saw the small girl and called her to show him the road that links to Oyero Road, held her hand and took her to an uncompleted building.

“When her elder sister noticed she did not see the younger sister along the street she raised an alarm, the convict tried to escape, but the people in the community caught him.

“He was arrested and he made confessional statement that he kidnapped the girl in order for him to sell her to a man who requested for a child,” Lawal said.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened section 371 of the criminal code laws of Ogun State 2006. (NAN)

IOJ/KTO/RSA

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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Rabiu Sani Ali