Magistrate Kehinde Awosika of an Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, in Ado Ekiti, has granted an order to remand Ojo Babajide (28) and Olajide Nathaniel (26) at the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Ado Ekiti.
The defendants, according to the charge, were reasonably suspected to have kidnapped one Etama Emmanuel, a student of Federal University Oye Ekiti on 23rd March, 2022 around 7pm in Oye Ekiti.
Requesting for the remand order, Inspector Olubu Apata said remanding them at the Correctional Centre will allow the Police complete their investigation and forward the duplicate case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
In his statement to the police, the victim said he was in the front of his barber shop, in Oye Ekiti around 7:00pm when he suddenly saw two people coming out of a Toyota Corolla car and they descended on him and forced him into the car.
He said they blind-folded him and he later found himself in a hotel in Ado Ekiti.
They demanded a ransom of N1, 000,000.00 and ordered him to call his relatives and friends, which he did.
“They pulled off my clothes and started flogging me with horse whip. Thereafter, I called some people, including my girlfriend to rescue me by sending the money, I later raised N101, 000.00 for them.
“I paid N4, 300 for the hotel room I was kept in; they searched me and collected my phone, watch and the money I have with me,” he concluded.
In his ruling, Magistrate Awosika ordered that the two defendants be remanded at the Correctional Centre, Ado Ekiti pending the issuance of the legal advice by the DPP.
The case has been adjourned till 4/4/22 for mention.
