Ogundare allegedly on July 5, 2017 “put himself forward to be kidnapped to cause a breach of public peace” contrary to Section 5 of the Kidnapping Prohibition 2017, No. C17, Law of Lagos State.
Part of the charge read that Mohammed and Abolanle on the same day allegedly “did aid, counsel, abet and procure Mutiu 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 in the third count allegedly took part in the offence of fake kidnap contrary to Section 16(1)(a-d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, CH. 17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After Ogundare’s arrest, the Lagos State government had ordered his immediate removal as the Baale of Shangisha in Magodo Lagos for allegedly staging his abduction, by section 38, subsection 1 of the Obas & Chiefs Laws of Lagos Inter-alia.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, the defence counsel Dr Yinka Owoeye told the court that his client couldn’t make it to court due to his ill health.
Owoeye, who informed the court that he had filed a medical report, claimed his client suffers from high blood pressure.
He, therefore, urged the court for a short adjournment to enable the defendant to get well and that his client has not been absent in court during the trial.
Counsel to Ogundare, Olanrewaju Ajanaku as well as the prosecution counsel, Jubrin Kareem did not oppose the request.
Justice Oshodi, in a short ruling, disclosed that the judgment is ready, but adjourned the case based on Section 235 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2015, which stipulated that all parties must be present in court.
