Local Govt Vice Chairman remanded in Prison custody over alleged self-kidnapping
Local Govt Vice Chairman remanded in Prison custody over alleged self-kidnapping
The Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Grace Ogunleye, has been remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre over allegations of conspiracy and self-kidnapping.
Ogunleye was arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado-Ekiti alongside three other defendants following police investigations into the incident that initially sparked concerns of an abduction.
The prosecution counsel, Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the case file had been forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice. He subsequently requested that the defendants be remanded pending further action.
Ruling on the application, Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ordered that the accused persons be remanded in custody at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre.
The arraignment followed an investigation by the Ekiti State Police Command into Ogunleye’s reported disappearance on May 20.
The council official was initially declared missing after her vehicle was discovered abandoned along the Ipere-Iludun Ekiti road, with reports indicating that she had been abducted by armed men shortly after leaving the local government secretariat.
Security operatives later rescued her unharmed in a joint operation.
However, police investigations allegedly uncovered evidence suggesting that the abduction was staged.
According to the police, the alleged self-kidnapping was orchestrated as part of efforts to raise money to offset financial obligations and unresolved political commitments.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson of the Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, said the suspects were charged after the conclusion of investigations into the matter.
Reacting to the allegations, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Pius Dada, condemned the incident, describing it as both embarrassing and unacceptable.
Dada warned that such actions could undermine public confidence in government officials and security institutions, stressing that anyone found culpable would be made to face the full weight of the law regardless of status or position.
