By Adebisi Fatima Shittu

An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ibadan on Thursday remanded four people including a teenager for alleged kidnapping and collection of N8,600,000 ransom.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court ordered that Abdullahi Shehu, 25, Adamu Musa, 18, Babuga Ali, 20, and Maisa Umar, 22, should be kept at the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo Town.

The defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful dispossession.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.O. Ogunkanmi, did not take their pleas as she said she needed advice from the Oyo State Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Ogunkanmi adjourned the case until Dec. 6, for mention.

According to the prosecutor, Insp Sikiru Opaleye, the defendants and others at large conspired to commit the offences on Nov. 27, 2020.

“The defendants, on Nov. 27 , 2020, at 6.45 p.m., at Odo-Ogun via Akinwunmi area, Ibadan, while armed with guns attacked one Adamu Ibrila and dispossessed him of his cell phone valued at N25, 000.

“The defendants unlawfully kidnapped Adamu and collected ransom of N7 million from his brother, Usman Ibrila, before releasing him after five days in their captivity.

” On August 20, at 8: 00 p.m., the defendants kidnapped Chede Usman, 14, unlawfully, and collected N1.6 million from his father, Usman Ibrila, before releasing the boy after spending four days in their captivity,” he said.

Opaleye said that the alleged offences contravened Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act of 2004.

He added that the offences contravened Section 2 of the Oyo State Kidnapping (Prohibition ) Law, 2016, and were punishable under Section 4 (2) of the law.

He also said that the offences were contrary to the provisions of Section 516 of the Oyo State Criminal Code, 2000. (NAN)

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