Court remands LG vice chairman over staged kidnap in Ekiti

A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado-Ekiti has ordered the remand of the Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Grace Ogunleye, over her alleged involvement in a staged kidnapping.

Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun issued the remand order on Wednesday following Ogunleye’s arraignment on multiple charges linked to the alleged fake abduction.

The court directed that she be held at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre pending the duplication of the case file and its transfer to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

Ogunleye was earlier reported kidnapped on May 20, 2026, along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti road, where her vehicle was found abandoned by the roadside. The incident prompted a joint rescue operation involving the police, military, and local security operatives before she was located the following day.

However, preliminary investigations by the police reportedly indicated that the incident was staged, allegedly to raise funds to meet financial and political obligations.

The matter has been adjourned to await further directives from the DPP.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Pius Dada, condemned the alleged act, stating that no public office holder would be shielded from justice.

He described the incident as unfortunate and capable of eroding public confidence in government officials and security agencies.