Boko Haram insurgent to hang for killing police officer

Justice Lekan Ogunmoye of Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced Abdulsalam Adinoyi, 35, to death by hanging. In his judgment, Justice Ogunmoye said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the defendant, thus, implying his culpability in all the charges against him. “The sole issues for determination are […]

Justice Lekan Ogunmoye of Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced Abdulsalam Adinoyi, 35, to death by hanging.

In his judgment, Justice Ogunmoye said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the defendant, thus, implying his culpability in all the charges against him.

“The sole issues for determination are accordingly resolved in favour of the prosecution. The defendant is hereby found guilty as charged, he is accordingly sentenced to death by hanging on counts one, two and three and may Almighty God have mercy on his soul. 

“He is also sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in count four and 10 years imprisonment in count five with N10,000 as an option of fine,” he ruled.

Adinoyi was charged and arraigned on five count charges bothering on armed robbery, murder, terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms, 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, and 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.

The prosecution had proved that Adinoyi, who hails from Okene in Kogi State, between December 22, 2016 and March 20, 2017 while armed with a gun, attacked and robbed Sergeant Gana Jiya and other police officers at a checkpoint in Oye Ekiti, murdered Sergeant Gana Jiya on the spot while other police officers on duty sustained gunshot wounds.

The convict also carted away two AK-47 assault rifles which he used to launch terrorism attacks on people of Ekiti State and environs.

He confessed to being a member of Boko Haram.

Adinoyi said members of his group, Abu Uwais and Aminu aka Idi-Amin, now at large, were planning for an operation when police officers came to his house, searched it and recovered the AK-47 rifle among other items.

The prosecutor, Gbemiga Adaramola, called five witnesses including police officers who were at the scene while exhibit tendered include, AK-47 assault rifle, statement of the defendants and the victims, photographs, compact discs containing Boko Haram training, five SIM cards and packs, flash drive, empty bullet shells and medical reports among others.

The defendant spoke in his own defence through his counsel and called no witnesses.