A Taraba State High Court in Jalingo has sentenced four young men to life imprisonment for trying to kidnap two women in a staged abduction plan meant to extort millions from their families.
The convicts – Prosper Paul, Samuel David, Nosiu Buba, and Samuel Kelvin – were found guilty of attempted kidnapping in a case filed by the Taraba State Government in November 2021.
According to the court, the first accused, Prosper Paul, plotted a fake kidnapping with his girlfriend, Miss Fyafyatirmam Andeteran, and another lady, Miss Brenda Anthony. Paul had planned to collect ransom from their families using a pretend abduction.
In his ruling, Justice Agya said the act went against sections 4 and 5 of the Taraba State Kidnapping and Abduction Prohibition Law of 2019.
“Though the girls were not taken by force, the planned extortion through a fake abduction is still attempted kidnapping under the law,” the judge explained.
The court also gave Prosper Paul an extra 12 months in prison without the option of a fine for criminal conspiracy. The three other men were not found guilty of conspiracy but got life sentences for aiding the crime.
During the trial, six witnesses were presented, including the two young women who admitted they willingly took part in the plan. Fyafyatirmam’s family paid N4 million in ransom, while Paul demanded N10 million from Brenda’s family.
Investigations showed that Paul and Brenda stayed at Jaudi Hotel in Jalingo for four days, making ransom calls before the police used mobile phone records to trace and arrest them.
Justice Agya said, “It is worrying that some young women now plan fake kidnappings with their boyfriends to collect money from their families. This is a serious problem.”
He added, “Both Fyafyatirmam and Brenda were lucky not to be standing trial alongside their boyfriend. Their role in this case was clear and shameful.”
The lawyer for Prosper Paul, Mr Mahanan Luka, asked the court to consider the convict’s good behaviour in prison, saying, “He has repented and now leads a chaplaincy group at the correctional centre.” He also said he would review the judgment before deciding on an appeal.
Also speaking, Mr Dahiru Modibbo, lawyer to the other three convicts, said he would study the ruling before taking further steps.
Reacting to the judgment, Deputy Director of Citizens’ Rights in the Ministry of Justice, Mr Mustapha Adam, said, “This judgment is a bold step. It shows that the law is working and sends a clear message to others thinking of doing the same thing.”
