A septuagenarian Bashiru Mohammadu, has been charged with kidnapping before the Magistrates Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Mr Mohammadu was arraigned along with 14 other suspects – accused of rape, armed robbery and murder by the Amotekun Corps in the Upenmen area of Owo.

The 74-year-old suspect, who is also a guard on a farm, was alleged to be a member of a kidnap syndicate and conspired to kidnap two other persons including his master, Nelson Adeyemi.

Appearing before the Magistrates Court, the State Prosecutor, O. F. Akeredolu said that Mr Mohammadu committed the offence on November 17, 2023, at a forest reserve in Upenmem Forest in Owo LGA of the state.

Mr Akeredolu, who read the charge sheet before the magistrate, said the offence contravenes sections 2 and 6 of the Ondo State Anti-kidnapping and Anti-abduction Law 2010.

“That you, Mohammadu Basiru, and others now at large, on or about November 17, 2023, at about 6:00 pm, at Upenmen Forest, Owo, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, within the Criminal Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire with others still at large to kidnap Nelson Adeyemi and Olaoye Olaniyi,” he told the court.

He, however, urged the magistrate to remand the suspects at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, pending the issuance of legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions..

But the defence counsel, Kehinde Osadugba, prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable his client to reply to the application of the state counsel.

In a related development, the magistrates have remanded a clothier, Adesoji Adebayo, for allegedly raping a teenage girl.

The prosecution counsel, Mr Akeredolu said Mr Adebayo committed the offence on November 1, 2023, at night at Alhaji Camp in Idanre.

He noted that the defendant had carnal knowledge of the victim (name withheld) and caused her injury on her private parts.

Noting that the offence committed by the suspect contravenes section 3 (2) (c) of Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Ondo State, 2021, Mr Akeredolu urged the court to remand the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending the legal advice from the DPP.

Other defendants arraigned before the magistrates included Ayomide Olamide for alleged murder, armed robbery, and possession of firearms, Wisdom Victor for stealing a cell phone, Raphael Adeniyi for stealing mechanic equipment, Friday Samson, Babatunde Abiodun, Iroko Ojo and Ariyo Bamikole Ayuba Asiru for stealing a goat and motorcycles.

In her ruling, Magistrate Damilola Sekoni adjourned the case until December 27, 2023, for a reply and ruling on the application.