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The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a dethroned traditional ruler, the Baale of the Shangisha area of Lagos State, Mutiu Ogundare to 15 years imprisonment for planning and faking his own kidnap.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi sentenced the dethroned monarch to prison after convicting him on a three counts bordering on breach of peace and fake abduction.
The court also convicted and sentenced one of his brothers, Adams Mohammed.
The monarch’s wife, Abolanle was however discharged of the allegations.
According to the prosecution, the defendants committed the offence on July 5, 2017.
The prosecution explained that Ogundare put himself forward to be kidnapped for the purpose of causing a breach of the public peace, adding that his brother and wife aided in the crime.
For staging his kidnap, Ogundare was removed as the Baale of Shangisha by then Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, in July 2017.
In his judgment, Justice Oshodi sentenced the duo of Ogundare and Mohammed to 10 years jail term for count one without an option of fine, count two to one year with an option of N200,000 fine and count three to 15 years without an option of fine.
“I have considered the allocutus of the defence counsels. However, it is in the view of this court that the defendants showed no remorse during trial,” the judge said.
“In fact, the first defendant tried to buy his way out of the court. This is why a lesson has to be taught to serve as deterrence to others. The sentencing shall run concurrently from the day they were arrested,” he added.
