An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday ordered remand of two persons, Ojo Babajide (28) and Olajide Nathaniel (26) for alleged kidnapping. The defendants, whose addresses are unknown, are facing charges of conspiracy and kidnapping.The prosecutor, Insp. Olubu Apata, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on March 23 at 7:00p.m at Oye-Ekiti.Apata alleged that the defendants kidnapped one Etama Emmanuel.
According to Apata, Emmanuel was in front of his barber shop when the defendants suddenly came out of a grey-coloured Toyota Corolla and descended on him. He said that they forced Emmanuel into the car and blindfolded him.He added that Emmanuel later found himself in an hotel in Ado-Ekiti.
The prosecutor said that the defendants demanded a ransom of N1 million from Emmanuel and ordered him to call his relatives and friends, which he did. Apata said that the defendants kept Emmanuel inside a wardrobe, pulled off his clothes and flogged him with horsewhip.He added that Emmanuel called some people, including his girlfriend, to rescue him by sending the money.According to him, Emmanuel’s relatives sent N101,000 to the defendants. Apata said that the defendants also collected Emmanuel’s phone and wristwatch.
According to him, the offences contravene Section 3(a) of the Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law of Ekiti, 2015.The pleas of the defendants were not taken. The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in the correctional centre pending legal advice from the office of the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kehinde Awosika, ordered their remand in a correctional centre, pending the legal advice. She adjourned the case until April 14 for mention.
