Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced two men — identified as professional bandits Abubakar Sodiki and Abubakar Mohammed — to death by hanging after finding them guilty of kidnapping, armed robbery and related offences. The judgement was delivered on Thursday, March 5, 2026, by Justice Ahmed Aliyu Gegele following a lengthy and high-profile prosecution that unfolded over the past year.
The pair were arraigned on a six-count charge that included criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms. Prosecutors, led by counsel Muslimah Suleiman, argued that the evidence presented during the trial clearly established the involvement of both men in violent criminal activity that terrorised residents and travellers in parts of Kwara State.
Central to the case was the testimony of the principal victim, Alhaji Saheed Arowasi, a resident of the Boniya community in Baruten Local Government Area. Arowasi told the court how he was abducted by the defendants and held captive, with his abductors originally demanding a ransom of ₦100 million before later agreeing to accept ₦10 million in exchange for his release. The victim’s account of his ordeal formed a key part of the prosecution’s case and was corroborated by additional evidence and witness statements admitted during the trial.
The court also admitted statements given by the suspects and the victim at the police station, which were considered alongside other documentary and testimonial evidence in establishing the defendants’ participation in the kidnapping and robbery scheme.
During allocutus — the formal opportunity defendants have to address the court before sentencing — Sodiki pleaded for leniency, begging the court to temper justice with mercy. Mohammed, however, maintained his innocence and urged the court to discharge and acquit him, denying any involvement in the allegations. The defence also argued that the prosecution had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants were directly responsible for the crimes charged. The prosecution, for its part, said there was no evidence of previous convictions for the pair but maintained that the case presented was strong and adequately substantiated.
Justice Gegele, in delivering the ruling, said that while he had taken the allocutus of the defendants into account, the law did not allow discretion where clear statutory punishments applied once an offence had been proven. In his view, the evidence before the court met the legal threshold for the charges, and the offences committed — particularly armed robbery and kidnapping — carried mandatory penalties.
As a result, the judge sentenced both convicts to death by hanging on the counts relating to armed robbery. Additionally, they were each given life imprisonment for the offence of kidnapping and 10 years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms. The judge ordered that the sentences run according to the provisions of the law.
The criminal case against Sodiki and Mohammed began with their arraignment on April 29, 2025, and the final addresses in the trial were adopted on July 30, 2025. More than seven months of legal proceedings preceded the ruling, reflecting the complexity and seriousness of the charges.
Legal analysts note that the death sentence in kidnapping and armed robbery cases underscores the severity with which Nigerian courts can treat violent crimes that involve ransom demands and the threat of loss of life. Under Nigerian criminal law, offences involving abduction with ransom demands and the use of firearms often attract capital punishment if the prosecution proves them beyond reasonable doubt.
The ruling has drawn attention from legal commentators and human rights advocates alike. Some say the stringent sentences reflect a judicial determination to deter armed criminality and kidnapping syndicates, particularly in states like Kwara that have faced security challenges including numerous abduction incidents in recent years. Others argue that capital punishment remains a subject of ongoing debate within Nigeria’s legal and human rights communities, with calls from some quarters for alternative sentencing and improved preventive security measures.
For the victim, Arowasi, the verdict has brought a degree of closure after months living with the psychological and financial toll of his abduction. His testimony played a crucial role in the court’s finding that Sodiki and Mohammed were culpable for the kidnapping and robbery scheme.
Defence counsel for the convicts has indicated plans to study the certified copy of the judgment for possible appeal. Under Nigerian law, defendants sentenced to death have the right to appeal to higher courts. Should the convicts pursue this avenue, the case may continue through the appellate system before any execution of the death sentence is carried out.
The verdict is one of several recent high-profile criminal judgments in Kwara State’s judiciary, which has been under pressure to address rising violent crime and deliver justice in a manner that reinforces public confidence in the rule of law. Public reactions have ranged from support for tough judicial action to broader calls for comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of kidnapping and armed robbery, including unemployment and weak community policing frameworks.
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