Thursday, July 20, 2017

Court remands Baale, wife in prison for fake kidnap

The suspect, Baale of Shangisha, Chief Yusuf Ogundare (right), with his brother, Mohammed Adams (left) when paraded last week.


An Ogba Magistrate’s Court, Ikeja, Lagos State, yesterday remanded the deposed Baale of Shangisha, Chief Mutiu Micheal Ogundare, in Kirikiri Prison, for allegedly faking his kidnap.

The Baale will remain in prison alongside his wife, Abolanle and one Mohammed Opeyemi Babatunde, pending when they perfect their bail conditions.They were arraigned before Magistrate (Mrs.) T. Akanni on a three-count charge, their offence bordering on breach of public peace and fake kidnapping.

They pleaded not guilty to charges preferred against them. In the first count, Ogundare was alleged to have on July 5, 2017 “put himself forward to be kidnapped for the purpose of causing breach of public peace” contrary to Section 5 of the Kidnapping Prohibition 2017, No. C17, Law of Lagos State.

Second count stated that Mohammed and Abolanle on the same day allegedly “did aid, counsel, abet and procure Mutiu Michael Yusuf Ogundare to fake his kidnap” contrary to section Section 7(1) and (2) of the Kidnapping Prohibition 2017, No. C17, Law of Lagos State, while the three defendants were in the third count, alleged to have take part in the offence of fake kidnap contrary to Section 16(1)(a-d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, CH. 17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015.

The defendants’ counsel, Mr. Glory Odimayo, prayed the court for their bail, submitting that the defendants are prominent members of the Shangisha community and would not jump bail.

According to him, the third defendant, before this incident, was the reigning Baale while the second defendant is his wife and as such would not jump bail. Odimayo further told the court that they would not use their positions to tamper with evidence already before the court.

The prosecutor, Mr. Peter Okerinmodun, opposed the application, stating that the defendants are popular members of the community and could use such relationship to tamper with evidence.

He told the court that, if granted bail, their presence in the community might cause a breakdown of law and order and that they would use their position to influence witnesses.

The magistrate while ruling on the application held that Section 155 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Lagos State 2011, agreed with the defence. She granted bail to each of the defendants, in the sum of N2 million and two sureties in the like sum.

She further ruled that the sureties must include a traditional ruler, person with registered property in Lagos, must be a tax payer and a grade level 17 officer in the state public service. He adjourned the matter till August 23 for hearing.

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