Man Remanded For Kidnapping Ondo Businessman

An Odigbo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State has ordered the detention of a 32-year-old man named Olayemi Olawale at the Okitipupa Correctional Centre in response to his involvement in the kidnapping of a businessman.

Olawale was presented before Chief Magistrate D.O. Ogunfuyi by the Ondo State Police Command, where he faced an arraignment on a single charge of kidnapping.

The Prosecutor, Inspector James Usifo, informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on August 16, 2023 at about 11:00am around Bovas Filling Station, along Ore/ Benin express road in Ondo State.

Usifo said that the defendant attempted to kidnap one Akeem Ganiyu, who owns a filling station, bakery, factory and fleets of cars at Ofosu.

He said the defendant committed the crime, accompanied by the duo of Awosika Olalekan and Olabamijo Iseoluwa who were on his motorcycle.

According to the charge, the offence contravenes Section 509 of the Criminal Code Cap. 37 Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006. But the defendant pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, therefore, asked the court for permission to send the case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

The defence counsel, Mr. M. E Tiewe, did not oppose the prosecutor’s request.

In his verdict, Chief Magistrate Ogunfuyi ordered the defendant to be held in custody at the Okitipupa Correctional Centre until further notice, pending the advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

He adjourned the next hearing for September 28, 2023, for the purpose of addressing the case.