The Court docket of Enchantment Lagos Division on Monday affirmed the sentence of the dethroned Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Lagos State, Mutiu Ogundare, for faking his abduction.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State Excessive in Ikeja had on September 27, 2022, sentenced the convict to fifteen years imprisonment.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, Ogundare approached the court docket to problem the choice of the decrease court docket which sentenced him to fifteen years imprisonment.
Nevertheless, when the case was referred to as on Monday, Mr Jubril Kareem introduced his look for the respondent, whereas Mr Kayode Ojo appeared for the appellant.
Delivering judgment, the lead Justice of the three-man, Justice Peter Bassi, who learn the decision, upheld the judgment of the decrease court docket in counts one and two and upturned depend three.
Different Justices of the panel are Justice Bayero and Folashade Ojo, who agreed with the lead justice.
Bassi mentioned that Ogundare’s attraction succeeded partly and diminished his sentence to 12 years.
The court docket, nonetheless, held, “The appellant is to serve 10 years imprisonment, for depend one and two years for counts two, respectively.”
On the third depend, the court docket upturned the sentence in respect of false illustration to launch a kidnapped particular person.
The convict was first remanded on July 16, 2017, in Kirikiri Jail, by an Ogba Justice of the Peace’s Court docket, for allegedly faking his kidnap.
Ogundare was prosecuted alongside his spouse, Abolanle and brother, Opeyemi Mohammed.
They have been arraigned on three counts bordering on conspiracy, breach of peace and pretend kidnapping, most popular in opposition to them by the Lagos State authorities.
Justice Oshodi, on June 15, 2022, convicted Ogundare and his brother Opeyemi Mohammed and reserved judgment until September 27, 2022.
Earlier than their conviction, Ogundare’s counsel Olarewaju Ajanaku, in his allocutus pleaded with the court docket to mood justice with mercy.
Ajanaku instructed the court docket that the convict had turned a brand new leaf and that he didn’t suppose by means of his actions when he dedicated the offence.
The second defence counsel, Dr. Olayinka Owoeye, additionally in his allocutus prayed the court docket to mood justice with mercy including that the convict (Mohammed),had learnt his classes.
The mentioned kidnap happened on July 5, 2017, however Ogundare later confessed to safety providers that he staged the kidnap to blackmail the state authorities.
He was allegedly kidnapped by three males alongside the Centre for Administration Growth Highway, Ikosi-Isheri Native Council Growth Space.
The Baale was mentioned to have obtained a telephone name from alleged builders, who had indicated an curiosity in a landed property inside his area.
The callers instructed him the place to fulfill them, prompting Ogundare to drive to the deal with with one in every of his brothers, Mohammed.
On arriving on the location, the three males appealed to the Baale and his brother to hitch them of their White Toyota Venza in order that they might go and see the land.
It was said that on their method, the Baale’s brother seen one of many males had a gun with him and he raised alarm and the suspected kidnapper pushed the Baale’s brother out of the car and sped off with the Baale.
In the identical month, the previous governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, ordered the elimination of Ogundare because the baale of Shangisha.