Dethroned traditional ruler of Lagos sentenced to 15 years in prison for faking his own kidnapping
A Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja, sentenced the dethroned Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Mutiu Ogundare, to fifteen years imprisonment for to pretend his own kidnapping.
The sentence was handed down by Judge Hakeem Oshodi on Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
Mr Ogundare was arraigned alongside his wife, Abolanle, and one Mohammed Opeyemi, by a police prosecutor, Peter Okerinmodun, on three counts of false kidnapping and trespassing. public order.
On June 15, the court released and acquitted Ogundare’s wife, Abolanle, that she had no connection to the offences.
On June 15, Judge Oshodi sentenced Ogundare alongside Opeyemi Mohammed on three counts, bordering on conspiracy and false kidnapping.
Judge Oshodi sentenced the duo to 10 years in prison to count one with no fine option, count two to one year with a N200,000 fine option and count three to 15 years with no fine option.
“I have reviewed the defense attorneys’ submissions. However, it is the opinion of this court that the defendants showed no remorse during the trial.
“In fact, the first defendant tried to buy his way out of court. A lesson must be thought out to have a deterrent effect on others.
“The defendants are hereby sentenced to 10 years to count one with no fine option, one year to count two with an option of N200,000 and 15 years to count three with no fine option. The sentence shall run concurrently from day they had been arrested,” Oshodi said.
Mr. Olarewaju Ajanaku, who represented the first defense attorney, Dr. Muniz Banire, in his address on June 15 urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
Ajanaku had prayed to the court that the convict would turn over a new leaf and not reflect on his action when he committed the offences.
The second defense attorney, Dr Olayinka Owoeye, also in his address, had urged the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that the convict had learned his lessons.
The public prosecutor, Mr. Jubril Kareem, however, urged the court to apply the provisions of the law to sentence the convicts.
The said abduction took place on July 5, 2017, but Ogundare later confessed to security services that he staged the abduction to blackmail the state government.
In the same month, Akinwunmi Ambode, former Governor of Lagos, ordered Ogundare’s removal as King of Shangisha.
