On Thursday, March 23, 2023, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, sentenced four men to death by hanging for armed robbery and kidnapping of Mrs. Gloria Emole, the younger sister of Emzor Pharmaceutical Managing Director, Chief Ebuka Okafor.
The convicts are Victor Chukwunonso, Ifeanyi Maduaka, Obinna Nwankwo, and Richard Nwabueze.
The trial judge, Justice Lawal-Akapo, held that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The first convict Chukwunoso was a former employee of the victim’s elder brother who was sacked after he fought in the company against the rule of the company that fighting was prohibited.
The convicts were arraigned on July 13, 2013, and were remanded in prison custody.
The convicts had on November 19, 2012, at about 8:30 a.m. committed the offences.
They were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping preferred against them by Lagos State.
The Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, had told the court during their arraignment that they had kidnapped the victim who was about to leave her house at 7, Unity Street, Ogudu GRA, Lagos.
Martins had told the court that the victim was kidnapped, blindfolded thrown inside the booth, and was driven to an unknown area in Ikorodu.
According to the Prosecutor, the offences committed are contrary to and Punishable Under sections 297,285 (2) a, and 291, of the Criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.
The victim was later released on November 22, 2012, after a ransom of $ 70,000 US dollars was paid, by her husband.
During the trial, the prosecution called four witnesses, who testified against the defendants.
The victim narrated to the court that she made a statement at the Police station and how the incident happened.
She said that on November 19, 2012, the first accused person held a double barrel, accosted her at about 8:30 a.m., blindfolded and locked her in her booth, and took her to an unknown destination.
She narrated that after the kidnap they demanded $300,000.
The victim’s husband, Osodun Emole, in his testimony also told the court that he paid the first and second convicts the sum of $70,000 US dollars.
Emole said that they had initially asked for $300,000, but after negotiation, they accepted $70,000.
He stated that he put the money inside an envelope and he was instructed how he was to dress and where to drop the money.
Emole also told the court that it was the police that told him that the convicts had been arrested.
Inspector Gbenga Faguiro, who tendered nine exhibits, had also narrated that the first convict was arrested at Alapere Ketu and a Nokia phone was recovered from him, which was later used to track down the others.
