The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three suspects linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment.
Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered that the life sentence should take effect from the date of the convicts’ arrest, Channels TV reports.
Before sentencing, defence counsel urged the court to exercise leniency, arguing that the defendants were first-time offenders who had pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
The lawyer submitted that their guilty plea demonstrated remorse, adding that the offences for which they were convicted were not directly related to the kidnapping itself.
He further told the court that the convicts were married with children and had elderly parents who depended on them for support. Related News Anambra introduces plea bargain policy to decongest prisons, speed up justice Court to rule on NDLEA bid to destroy ₦480bn meth lab Friday Security forces kill three bandits, rescue businessman in Kwara
