ADEBUKUNOLA ADEOTI BANJOKO, JCA (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the Judgment of the High Court of Kogi State delivered by HONOURABLE JUSTICE R. O. AYOOLA in Charge No: HCl./167C/2017 on the 18th day of December, 2020 which can be seen at Pages 153-175 of the Record of Appeal.
The Record of Appeal was transmitted to this Court on the 7th day of September 2021.
The Appellant, who was the 5th Defendant, alongside five other Defendants, was charged with Criminal Conspiracy and Kidnapping under Section 97(1) of the Penal Code and Section 4(1) (b) of the Kogi State Kidnapping Prohibition Law, 2015.
During Trial, the Prosecution called three Witnesses (PW 1, PW2, and PW3) and tendered Exhibits P1 - P7 to support its Case. The Appellant, in turn, testified in his defence. The Trial Court found that the Appellant's Statement, Exhibit P7, corroborated by other evidence, including the Victim's testimony that he was in the farm with the Appellant for six to seven days, d…