An High Court sitting on Ikeja under Justice Hakeem Oshodi had on Tuesday sentenced a dethroned Baale of Shangisha in Magodo area of Lagos, Mutiu Ogundare, to 15 years imprisonment for faking his own kidnap.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi sentenced Ogundare following his conviction on a two-count bordering on breach of peace and fake kidnapping.The ex-Baale’s brother, Opeyemi Mohammed, was also handed the same prison term.However, the court set his wife Abolanle, free having earlier absolved her of the charges.“I have considered the allocutus of the defence counsels. However, it is in the view of this court that the defendants showed no remorse during trial.In fact, the first defendant tried to buy his way out of the court. A lesson has to be thought to serve as a deterrent to others.“The defendants are hereby sentenced to 10 years for count one without an option of fine, one year to count two with an option of N200,000 and 15 years to count three without an option of fine.“The sentencing shall run concurrently from the day they had been arrested,” Oshodi said.
The offences contravene Section 7(1) and (2) of Lagos State Kidnapping Prohibition Law of 2017, and Sections 96 (1) (a-d) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.Ajanaku prayed to the court that the convict had turned a new leaf and he did not think through his action when he committed the offences.The second defence counsel, Dr Olayinka Owoeye, also in his allocutus prayed the court to temper justice with mercy adding that the convict had learnt his lessons. 
According to the prosecution, the defendants committed the offence on July 5, 2017.The prosecution explained that Ogundare put himself forward to be kidnapped purpose being made a breach of public peace, adding that his brother and wife aided in the crime.Due to his offensive drama, Ogundare was removed as the Baale of Shangisha by former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, in July 2017.
