An ex-convict has been sentenced to 4 years in prison for kidnapping and various criminal offenses. Explore the case and the court’s decision.
A Chief Magistrate Court in Minna, Niger State, has sentenced 35-year-old ex-convict, Bala Mohammed, to four years in prison on charges of conspiracy, attempted kidnapping, and criminal intimidation.
The ruling was delivered by Chief Magistrate Hajiya Fati Hassan Umar, following Mohammed`s conviction on all three counts.
The case was brought to court by the police prosecutor, Sgt. Abdullahi Usman, who explained that the charges were in violation of sections 3(1), 3(3), and 397 of the Niger State Kidnapping and Cattle Rustling Law of 2016, as well as the Penal Code.
The ex-convict was apprehended by officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) under the Niger State Police Command.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), with reference number MN/CMC/CR/95/2024, the incident occurred on August 7, 2024. The victim, Alhaji Sardauna Abdullahi, residing in Wawa village in Borgu Local Government Area, reported receiving a threatening phone call.
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The caller, using GSM number 09167577960, demanded a ransom of N3 million, threatening to kidnap and kill Abdullahi if the money was not paid.
The court found Bala Mohammed guilty of these criminal offenses and sentenced him accordingly.
“After a series of negotiations, the unknown caller later agreed to collect the sum of N500,000. Police detectives and a vigilante group swung into action and arrested you, Bala Mohammed, of Wawa village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, in the process of collecting the ransom.
“During the police investigation, you, Bala Mohammed, confessed to conspiring with one Idris (surname unknown) of Nasarawa State, who is now at large, and whom you met while serving your jail term at Minna Old Correctional Centre. You provided the complainant with a phone number that you called and threatened him.”
When the charges were read to the convict by the presiding Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Fati Hassan Umar, he pleaded guilty to the three counts.
At this point, the police prosecutor, Sgt. Usman Abdullahi, told the court to convict and sentence the accused person summarily in accordance with the provisions of Section 190 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) Niger State 2023.
While passing her verdict, the presiding Chief Magistrate described the convict as an unrepentant criminal, which made her doubt his conscience.
“The convict, however, pleaded for leniency, but in the First Information Report (FIR) before the court, it was stated that the convict had served a jail term at Old Minna Prison, which makes me doubt his conscience and leads me to regard him as a person of questionable character.
