20th July, 2011
The police in Ota, Ogun State have dragged two suspects, Lanre Adebayo, 34 and Adijat Jelili, 25 before the Ota Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly kidnapping a five-year old girl, Oluwafikunayomi Komolafe, for seven days.
They were arraigned on a three-count charge of kidnapping Oluwafikunayomi Komolafe before the presiding magistrate, Alhaji Akeem Adenariwo.
The offence is punishable under Sections 365, 516 and 364 (2).
The prosecutor, Cpl. O. Awoleke told the court that the accused were arrested on 23 June at about 8a.m. at Elere Village, Ijako, Sango while collecting the ransom they demanded from her parents whose names have not been released.
During interrogation, they confessed that they were not the only ones involved in the kidnap. Five others were arrested and also charged to court on a six-count charge before the same court.
Questioning the accused, the presiding magistrate asked them what they do for a living, who sent them and how long they have been in the ‘business’?
The first accused described himself as a barber while the second accused said he was not doing anything but that the man whose daughter was kidnapped was owing one of his colleagues in his office some amount of money which he refused to pay back.
He disclosed further that he conspired with others to kidnap his daughter in order to make him pay the money.
The magistrate asked them the whereabouts of the man and they answered that the police were still looking for him.
The defence counsel, Mr. V.O. Micheal, holding brief for Mr. Olarewaju Ayedu pleaded with Chief Magistrate Adenariwo to grant the accused bail.
Adenariwo reserved ruling on the bail application till 29 July, 2011 and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.
—Kehinde Alatise