A Makurdi High Court presided over by Justice Andove Kaakan on Wednesday sentenced two persons to death for abducting and killing a priest of Otukpo Catholic Diocese, Benue State, Rev. Fr. John Adeyi.
The convicts are Suleiman Goma (30) and Haruna Idi (32) both of Orokamu in Ogbadibo Local Government area of the State.
Rev. Fr. Adeyi was kidnapped on April 26, 2016, while returning from a Mass in Orokamu.
He was going to Okpokwu when he was abducted and later killed after the family paid a ransom.
Kaakan, while delivering judgment, said the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
The case was filed by the Inspector General of Police against the two convicts, Suleiman Goma (30) and Haruna Idi (32), both from Orokamu in the Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state.
The presiding judge had said, “All evidence proved that the convicts conspired and killed the priest who they took to Okungaga forest in Okpokwu. They demanded N2m ransom and they eventually killed him after collecting N1.5m.”
The judge noted that three guns, consisting of two pistols and one Dane gun, as well as charm, were recovered from the convicts.
Kaakan said Goma, in his statement, admitted that he bought the gun for robbery and kidnapping.
