An Ikeja High Court on Tuesday sentenced the deposed Baale of Shangisha in Magodo area of Lagos State, Mutiu Ogundare, to 15 years imprisonment for planning and faking his own kidnaping.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi sentenced Ogundare having convicted him of a three-count charge bordering on breach of peace and fake kidnapping. Also jailed for same prison term of 15 years, alongside the deposed Baale was his brother, Opeyemi Mohammed. The court had earlier on June15, 2022 during last proceedings, discharged and acquitted his wife Abolanle, of the charges.
Delivering judgment in the matter Justice Oshodi said he considered the allocutus of the defense counsel in arriving at his decision. The judge held that the defendants, particularly the first defendant, showed no remorse in the course of the trial. “The first defendant tried to buy his way out of the court. This is why the defendants must be taught a lesson to serve as deterrence to others”, he held.
Justice Oshodi thereafter sentenced Ogundare and Mohammed to ten years imprisonment on count one without an option of fine, one year on count two with an option of fine in the some of N200,000 only. The convicts were also sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on the third count without an option of fine respectively. The judge said the sentences will however run concurrently.
Earlier on June 15, Olanrewaju Ajanaku, representing Dr Muiz Banire, SAN, had prayed the court to temper justice with mercy adding that they have become remorseful.
Also, counsel to the second defendant, Dr Olayinka Owoeye also pleaded with the court for mercy saying that his client, Mohammed had learnt his lesson.
However, the prosecuting counsel, Jubril Kareem urged the court to disregard their pleas and to apply the law on kidnaping accordingly.
