By Emmanuel Adeleke
A 75-year-old man, Basiru Mohammadu, has been arraigned before an Akure Magistrate Court for the abduction of his boss, Nelson Adeyemi, and his friend, Olaoye Olaniyi.
Basiru was arrested by men of the Ondo State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, after the phone number the abductors were using to negotiate for ransom was found on his phone.
He was among 14 suspects arraigned before the court, for various offences ranging from kidnapping, rape, armed robbery and murder.
Police prosecutor, O.F. Akeredolu, informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on November 17, 2023, at around 6pm, at Upenmen Forest, Owo, Owo Local Government Area of the state.
He told the court that Mohammadu, who was a security man in a farm, was responsible for operation of the kidnap syndicate in the area.
“That you, Mohammadu Basiru, and others now at large, on or about November 17, 2023, at about 6:00pm, at Upenmen Forest, Owo, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, within the Criminal Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire with others still at large to kidnap Nelson Adeyemi and Olaoye Olaniyi,” the charge read in part.
The offence according to Akeredolu, contravened Section 2 and Section 6 of the Ondo State anti-kidnapping and anti-abduction law, 2010.
Akeredolu urged the court to remand the suspects at Olokuta Correctional Centre, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
But the defence Counsel, Kehinde Osadugba, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable his client reply to the remand application.
Magistrate Damilola Sekoni adjourned the case till December 27, 2023 for a reply and ruling on the application.
A middle-aged fashion designer, Adesoji Adebayo, was also arraigned for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl.
The defendant allegedly committed the offence on November 1, 2023 at Alhaji Camp, Idanre.
Akeredolu said the defendant raped the victim (name withheld) by intentionally penetrating her vagina with his penis which caused injury to the girl.
Akeredolu said the offence contravened Slsection 3 (2) (c) of Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of 2021.
Akeredolu urged the court to remand the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending DPP advice.
Magistrate Sekoni adjourned the case till December 27 for ruling.
Other defendants arraigned were Wisdom Victor for stealing a cell phone, Raphael Adeniyi for stealing mechanic equipment, Friday Samson, Babatunde Abiodun, Iroko Ojo, Ariyo Bamikole and Ayuba Asiru for stealing a goat and motorcycles.
