Court Upholds Conviction of Dethroned Baale for Faking Abduction

 

The Court of Appeal sitting in the Lagos Division has upheld the conviction of Mutiu Ogundare, the dethroned Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, for faking his abduction.

On September 27, 2022, Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja convicted and sentenced Ogundare to 15 years in prison.

Displeased with the verdict, Ogundare appealed the decision.

Justice Paul Bassi, delivering the lead judgment on behalf of a three-man panel, affirmed the lower court’s judgment on counts one and two but overturned count three. Justice Bassi noted that Ogundare’s appeal succeeded in part, reducing his sentence to 12 years.

The court decreed that “the appellant is to serve 10 years imprisonment for count one and two years for count two, respectively.”

The sentence for the third count, related to false representation in the alleged kidnapping, was overturned.

The panel included Justice Abdullahi Bayero and Justice Folashade Ojo, both of whom concurred with the lead judgment.

Ogundare was initially remanded on July 16, 2017, at Kirikiri Prison by an Ogba Magistrate’s Court for allegedly staging his own kidnapping. He was prosecuted alongside his wife, Abolanle, and his brother, Opeyemi Mohammed, on charges of conspiracy, breach of peace, and fake kidnapping.

On June 15, 2022, Justice Oshodi convicted Ogundare and Opeyemi Mohammed, reserving judgment until September 27, 2022. Ogundare’s wife, Abolanle, was acquitted of all charges.

During sentencing, Ogundare’s counsel, Olarewaju Ajanaku, pleaded for leniency, citing Ogundare’s remorse and a new perspective on his actions.

Similarly, Dr. Olayinka Owoeye, representing the second defense counsel, requested mercy, stating that Mohammed had learned his lesson.

Conversely, state prosecution counsel Jubril Kareem urged adherence to legal provisions.

Justice Oshodi commented, “I have considered the allocutus of the defence counsel. However, it is the view of this court that the convicts showed no remorse during the trial. In fact, the first convict (Ogundare) tried to buy his way out of the court. A lesson has to be taught to serve as a deterrent to others.”

Ogundare’s alleged kidnapping occurred on July 5, 2017. He was purportedly abducted by three men along CMD Road, Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area. Ogundare had received a phone call from supposed developers interested in a property within his domain.

He drove to the designated location with his brother, where they were purportedly met by the kidnappers. The alleged abduction ended when Ogundare’s brother noticed a weapon and raised an alarm, leading the kidnappers to flee with Ogundare.

Ogundare later admitted to security services that he had staged the kidnapping to extort the state government.

In response to the scandal, former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode ordered Ogundare’s removal as the Baale of Shangisha.