An Ekiti State High Court has sentenced two men to death by hanging after finding them guilty of kidnapping a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Omoboade Adesina.

The convicts, Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar, were prosecuted following their arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over the abduction, which occurred on April 22, 2022.

Delivering judgment, the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, held that the prosecution had proved its case against Ibrahim and Abdullahi Abubakar beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Ogunmoye subsequently sentenced the two men to death by hanging.

The judge commended the prosecution team of the DSS for its diligence in investigating and prosecuting the case.

He identified the identification parade conducted by the DSS and the analysis of call data records as crucial pieces of evidence that assisted the court in reaching its decision.

“The prosecution successfully established the guilt of the first and second defendants beyond reasonable doubt,” the judge held.

However, the court discharged and acquitted the third defendant, Usman Abubakar, after ruling that the prosecution failed to prove his involvement in the offence.

The conviction is the latest in a series of successful prosecutions secured by the DSS in cases involving kidnapping, terrorism, and other related offences across the country.

The agency recently secured convictions in separate cases involving terrorism, cross-border arms trafficking, and kidnapping in Sokoto and Kogi states.

Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three suspects connected to the killing of retired OGTV broadcaster, Kitan Oyesiku, popularly known as Aunty Kitan.

Oyesiku was murdered in cold blood alongside her 38-year-old security guard, Pelumi Adetayo, at her residence

in the Kobape area of Abeokuta last Saturday.

The Ogun police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed that the corpse of the security guard was discovered within the security post, while the lifeless body of Oyesiku was found face up inside her apartment.

He stated that her vehicle, which was also discovered missing, was eventually recovered in the state.

Barely five days after her death, the police have announced the arrest of the suspects – Sodeinde Olajuwon Phillip, 22, Sakirudeen Abdulraheem Ayoola, 27, and Sobu Obafunsho, 36.

Sodeinde, the principal suspect, who was a former security guard to the deceased, was said to have recruited the others to join him in carrying out the heinous crime.

The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, on Thursday, stated that in the course of investigation it was discovered that Sodeinde have always contacted the deceased, demanding for money even when he was no longer worked for her.

The CP disclosed that the missing vehicle was recovered close to Sodeinde’s residence and he was arrested at a construction site in GRA Ibara where he worked as a labourer.

The police chief stated that on interrogation, Sodeinde confessed to killing the deceased just to “teach her a lesson”, adding that the attack following grievances he has been holding against with the deceased during the period he worked as a security guard in her employment.

The CP said, “The Command launched intensive investigation, intelligence gathering, and technical tracking operations aimed at identifying those responsible and recovering the missing vehicle.

“Acting on credible intelligence and technical tracking analysis, operatives of the Command successfully traced and recovered the missing Lexus RX 330 vehicle belonging to the deceased on 22nd June, 2026. Although the ignition key had been removed and the registration number plates detached from the vehicle, detectives recovered the vehicle’s registration plate concealed underneath one of the seats, which enabled investigators to positively identify and confirm the vehicle as the property of Madam Olakitan Oyesiku.

“One critical piece of evidence recovered from the scene was a handwritten note apparently left behind by the perpetrators. The note was subjected to forensic examination and analysis, which generated valuable investigative leads that significantly aided detectives in identifying and tracing those responsible for the crime.

“Further intelligence gathering and painstaking investigation led to the identification and arrest of the principal suspect, Sodeinde Olajuwon Philip ‘m’ aged 22 years, on 24th June, 2026, at a construction site in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta, where he was working as a labourer.

“Further follow-up operations by detectives of the Command led to the successful arrest of Sakirudeen Abdulraheem Ayoola ‘m’ aged 27 years, a security guard, and Sobu Obafunsho ‘m’ aged 36 years, a bricklayer, thereby bringing into custody all identified suspects directly linked to the criminal conspiracy.

“The suspect stated that the murder of Madam Olakitan Oyesiku was intended to teach her a lesson.”

According to the commissioner, the suspects first overpowered the security guard, used him to gain access to the residence and upon gaining entry, they attacked Oyesiku and subsequently murdered the security guard.

Items recovered after searches at locations linked to the suspects include a broken hammer, a cutlass, a plank, a black pen and other relevant exhibits connected to the investigation.

The CP emphasized  that while the suspects have made useful statements and substantial evidence has been recovered in the course of the investigation, all suspects remain entitled to due process under the law.

He noted that investigation is ongoing to consolidate all available evidence and ensure diligent prosecution of all suspects connected with the crime.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council, Wale Olarewaju, thanked the CP for unraveling circumstances surrounding the broadcaster’s death.

Justice Samira Bature of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, on Thursday ordered the arrest of a police officer, Edith Erhunmuuse, for allegedly evading arraignment in an ongoing criminal case.

The judge further directed all law enforcement agencies across the country to arrest Erhunmuuse wherever she may be found.

Justice Bature granted the application following a request by the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imana.

Erhunmuuse is the third defendant in a charge marked FCT/HC/CR/222/2023, alongside Cecil Osakwe and Victor Giwa. The defendants are facing allegations of criminal conduct arising from the alleged forceful eviction of occupants and destruction of property valued at about N300 million.

At the resumed hearing, Imana informed the court that Erhunmuuse had again failed to appear despite an earlier bench warrant issued against her.

According to the prosecution, letters had previously been sent to the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, while directives had also been issued by the Inspector-General of Police to ensure her appearance in court.

“Yet, the defendant failed to appear in spite of the directives of the Inspector-General of Police,” Imana told the court.

Citing Section 353 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the prosecution urged the court to issue another warrant against the absent defendant.

Imana argued that Erhunmuuse had ignored court proceedings for over a year, while the other defendants had consistently attended proceedings.

Counsel to the first defendant, A.S. Usman, informed the court that efforts at amicable settlement discussed at the previous sitting were still ongoing. The second defendant, Victor Giwa, who appeared in person, aligned himself with the submission.

In her ruling, Justice Bature expressed dissatisfaction over the conduct of the third defendant, noting that the court could no longer tolerate further delays.

“The court is approaching its vacation time and cannot further delay the matter, including the order of arrest against the third defendant,” the judge said.

“The court hereby issues a bench warrant to all law enforcement agencies for the arrest of the third defendant, wherever she may be found, for showing disobedience and disrespect to this court,” Justice Bature ruled.

The order was made pursuant to Section 352 of the ACJA 2015.

The matter was subsequently adjourned until September 29 for continuation of trial, with the court warning that there would be no further excuses for non-appearance.