TheCable

An Ondo state high court has jailed seven suspected herdsmen for life over the kidnap of Olu Falae, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

On Monday, September 21, which was the elder statesman 77th birthday, armed men invaded his farm located at Ilado village, Akure, Ondo capital, and abducted him.

President Muhammadu Buhari had directed Solomon Arase, the former inspector-general of police, to relocate to Ondo to secure Falae’s release, and the septuagenarian regained freedom after three days in captivity.

The Department of States Services (DSS) later arrested some suspects in a hotel in Lokoja, Kogi state capital, and they were later arraigned in court.

On Monday, the court presided over by Williams Olamide, a judge, held that the suspects were guilty of the kidnapping charge brought against them.

Olamide said the recovered ransom, call logs, and identification of the suspects by Falae indicted them of complicity in the crime.

He discharged them of the charges of conspiracy and armed robbery, but convicted them on other charges and sentenced them to Olokuta prison without an option of fine.

Adesola Adeyemi, director of public prosecution at the Ondo state ministry of justice, described the judgement as justice well served.