The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Monday, July 22, 2024, affirmed the conviction of the dethroned traditional ruler of Shangisha in Magodo, Mutiu Ogundare, for faking his abduction.
The court, however, reduced Ogundare’s sentence to 12 years from the 15 years initially handed down to him by the lower court.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High sitting in Ikeja had, on September 27, 2022, sentenced the dethroned monarch to 15 years imprisonment.
Ogundare was charged alongside his wife, Abolanle, and his brother, Opeyemi Mohammed.
They were arraigned on three counts of breach of peace and fake abduction, preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.
The lower court had discharged and acquitted Ogundare’s wife, saying she had no link to the crime.
The court, however, found Ogundare and Mohammed guilty as charged.
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Dissatisfied with the judgement, Ogundare approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision of the lower court.
When the case was called on Monday, the lead Justice, Justice Peter Bassi, upheld the judgement of the lower court in counts one and two and upturned count three.
Other Justices of the panel were Justice Bayero and Justice Folashade Ojo, who agreed with the judgement of the lead Justice.
Justice Bassi declared that Ogundare’s appeal succeeded in part and reduced his sentence to 12 years.
The judge held that the appellant would serve 10 years imprisonment for count one and two years for count two.
On the third count, the judge upturned the sentence of the lower court, in respect of false representation to release a kidnapped person.
The convict was first remanded on July 16, 2017, in Kirikiri Correctional Centre by an Ogba Magistrates’ Court for fake abduction.
The Lagos State Government stated that the dethroned monarch committed the offence along Centre for Management Development Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area of the state on July 5, 2017.
The state said Ogundare staged the kidnap to blackmail the state government.
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