Court remands mother, son in prison over alleged kidnapping

An Osogbo Magistrate Court has ordered that a 47-year-old woman, Funmilayo Fatai; her 18-year-old son, Dare Fatai and one Raheem Ridwan be remanded at the Ilesa Prison over the allegation of kidnapping a 33-year-old Halimat Kamoru.

The magistrate, Mrs. Falilat Sodamade, gave this order on Monday following the arraignment of the accused persons before her.

The police prosecutor, Mr. Mereti Wilson, had told the court that Dare; Ridwan and others at large conspired to kidnap Kamoru. He said the offence was punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, 2003.

The charge sheet read, “That you Raheem Ridwan (2) Fatai Dare and others now at large on 23rd of July, 2016 at Oke-ola area of Osogbo in the Osogbo Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit : kidnapping and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 of the criminal code cap 34 vol of Nigeria 2003.

“On the same day, and place at the aforementioned magistrate district did unlawfully imprisoned one Halimat Kamoru, aged 33 in a manner as to prevent any person entitled to have access to her from discovering the place where she is imprisoned and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 346 ( 2 ) of the criminal code cap 34 vol. 11 laws of Osun State, Nigeria, 2003.

“That you Funmilayo Fatai on 28th of August, 2016 at Isale Osun area Osogbo Magisterial district aided and your son, one Fatai Dare by breaking his door and removed the sum of N3,500:00k and two Nokia handsets knowing same to have been used for kidnapping conversations and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 519 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 vol. 11 laws of Osun state of Nigeria 2003.”

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges and their counsel, Abdullah Abdulfatah, prayed the court to admit his clients to bail. He said they had been in detention for the past 15 days.

The prosecutor, Mereti Wilson, argued that the bail could not be granted because the victim’s whereabouts had yet to be known.

The magistrate ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to September 15 for further hearing of the bail application.