THE deposed Baale of Shangisha, Chief Micheal Ogundare, was on Thursday, remanded in Kirikiri Prison on the orders of an Ogba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for allegedly faking his kidnap.
Charged alongside Chief Ogundare is his wife, Abolanle, and one Mohammed Opeyemi Babatunde.
The trio would remain in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
Ogundare and his two alleged accomplices were arraigned before the magistrate, Mrs T. Akanni, on a three-count charge bordering on breach of public peace and fake kidnapping.
In count one, Chief Ogundare was alleged to have, on July 5, 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.
Count two stated that Babatunde and Abolanle on the same day allegedly aided Ogundare to fake his kidnap, contrary to Section 7(1) and (2) of the Kidnapping Prohibition 2017, No. C17, Law of Lagos State.
The three defendants were, in the third count, alleged to have conspired in the offence of faking the 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 pleaded not guilty to three-count charge preferred against them.
Counsel to the defendants, Mr Glory Odimayo, asked the court to grant his clients bail.
Odimayo argued that the defendants were prominent members of the Shangisha community and would not jump bail.
“The third defendant, before this incident, was the reigning Baale while the second defendant is his wife and, as such, would not jump bail,” the counsel said.
He further assured the court that they would not use their position to tamper with evidence already before the court.
The prosecutor, Mr Peter Okerinmodun, opposed the application, saying that the defendants were popular members of the community and could use such relationship to tamper with evidence.
Okerinmodun further 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.
Ruling on the matter, Mrs Akanni granted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of N2 million and two sureties in like sum.
She said the sureties must include a traditional ruler, someone with registered property in Lagos, a tax payer and a grade level 17 officer in the state public service.
The matter was adjourned till August 23 for hearing.
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