A Taraba State High Court sitting in Jalingo on Friday sentenced four men to life imprisonment for their involvement in an attempted kidnapping scheme aimed at defrauding the families of two young women.
The convicts—Prosper Paul, Samuel David, Nosiu Buba, and Samuel Kelvin—were found guilty of violating Sections 4 and 5 of the Taraba State Kidnapping and Abduction (Prohibition) Law 2019 (as amended) in suit number TRSJ/75C/2021, filed by the Taraba State Government in November 2021.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Joel Agya held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, establishing that Prosper Paul masterminded a staged kidnapping involving his girlfriend, Miss Fyafyatirmam Andeteran, and another woman, Miss Brenda Anthony, in a bid to extort ransom from their families.
Evidence presented in court revealed that the family of Miss Andeteran paid N4 million to secure her release, while a N10 million ransom demand was made in Brenda’s case. The victims later confessed to having willingly participated in the scheme.
Justice Agya ruled that although the victims were not forcefully abducted, the deliberate plan to fraudulently obtain money through false pretenses amounted to attempted kidnapping under the law. He emphasized that the crime was aggravated by the calculated intent and coordinated execution.
While Prosper Paul received an additional 12-month sentence for criminal conspiracy, the court acquitted the other three of that particular charge. However, all four were convicted of aiding and abetting the attempted kidnapping and received life sentences.
The prosecution, led by the Deputy Director of Citizens’ Rights at the Taraba State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Mustapha Adam, called six witnesses, including the victims, to support its case. Investigations led to the arrest of the defendants at Jaudi Hotel in Jalingo, where they were negotiating ransom payments. Mobile phone tracking data played a key role in linking the accused to the crime.
In his remarks, Justice Agya decried what he described as a “disturbing social menace” of young women colluding with partners to extort money from their families under the guise of abduction. He called for vigilance and moral reorientation in communities across the state.
Counsel to the first defendant, Mr. Mahanan Luka, pleaded for leniency, citing Prosper Paul’s active participation in a prison chaplaincy fellowship and hinted at plans to file an appeal. Similarly, Mr. Dahiru Modibbo, representing the other three defendants, said he would review the judgment and consult with his clients on possible legal action.
Reacting to the verdict, Mr. Adam described the judgment as a “landmark ruling” that underscores the seriousness of kidnapping-related offenses and serves as a deterrent to others contemplating similar acts.
