The Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, on Monday discharged and acquitted two young women, including a pregnant mother, who were arraigned on a four-count charge of unlawful possession of firearms, aiding and abetting kidnapping, and criminal conspiracy, among other offenses.

The accused, Aisha Haruna and Rabi Umar Murtala, were arrested by men of the Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad on June 25, 2025, in Babanla community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state, while inside a vehicle.

The prosecution, led by the Senior State Counsel, I. B. Olorundare, had told the court that the women were intercepted by the police and members of the local vigilante team at about 5:00 p.m. inside a vehicle carrying some young women whose movement appeared suspicious. While other suspects in the vehicle fled the scene, police stated they found an AK-47 rifle and 31 live rounds of ammunition in the bag of one of the women.

Delivering his judgment, which lasted over an hour, Justice M. O. Folorunso ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the allegations against the women, leading to their acquittal.

According to the court, the evidence presented by police witnesses was contradictory.

Justice Folorunso, who noted that one of the defendants admitted that an English rifle was found in her bag during the police search, added that the police witness’s evidence did not state clearly whether the weapon was an AK-47 or an AK-49.

He also held that the prosecution failed to prove that the women had any intent to commit an illegal act.

The judge thereafter discharged and acquitted them.

He further directed their counsels to provide them with transportation fare to their homes in Kaduna and Kanmbi community, Moro Local Government Area, respectively.

Also, Justice Folorunso convicted and sentenced members of a three-man armed robbery gang to death by hanging for armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.

The offence, which was committed on 2 March 2024 at Oko Erin area in Ilorin, the state capital, at about 6:00 a.m., involved the robbery of a victim of his Infinix Note 11 phone with the use of a gun.

The judge, who became emotional while delivering the sentence, wept and ordered that "the three young men be hanged by the neck until they die."