The Lagos Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of Mutiu Ogundare, the dethroned Baale (traditional ruler) of Shangisha in Magodo, for orchestrating a fake kidnapping.
However, his initial sentence of 15 years imprisonment, handed down by Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on September 27, 2022, has been reduced to 12 years.
Ogundare, along with his brother, Opeyemi Mohammed, were charged with conspiracy and breach of peace. Ogundare’s wife, Abolanle, was acquitted due to a lack of evidence linking her to the crime.
The staged abduction occurred on July 5, 2017. Ogundare claimed he was snatched by men posing as property developers. He later confessed that it was a ploy to blackmail the state government, leading to his removal as Baale.
Ogundare had been lured to a meeting with supposed property developers, only for the situation to turn violent when his brother discovered one of the men was armed.
During sentencing, Ogundare’s counsel, Olarewaju Ajanaku, pleaded for leniency, citing the convict’s apparent remorse and his intention to reform. Dr. Olayinka Owoeye, the second defence counsel, echoed these sentiments. However, state prosecutor Jubril Kareem urged the court to impose a sentence that reflects the severity of the crime.
Justice Oshodi noted that despite the pleas for mercy, the convicts (Ogundare and his brother) showed no genuine remorse and attempted to evade justice. He emphasized the need for a deterrent sentence to prevent similar offences.
Dissatisfied with the initial verdict, Ogundare appealed the decision. A three-judge panel led by Justice Paul Bassi upheld the lower court’s judgment on the charges of conspiracy and breach of peace but overturned the conviction for false representation.
The panel reduced Ogundare’s sentence to 12 years, with 10 years for conspiracy and 2 years for breach of peace.
