An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ibadan on Thursday remanded four people including a teenager for alleged kidnapping and collection of N8.6 million ransom.

The court ordered that Abdullahi Shehu, 25, Adamu Musa, 18, Babuga Ali, 20, and Maisa Umar, 22, should be kept at the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo Town.

The defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful dispossession.

The Chief Magistrate, O.O. Ogunkanmi, did not take their pleas as she said she needed advice from the Oyo State Directorate of Public Prosecutions. The case was adjourned until December for mention.

According to the prosecutor, Sikiru Opaleye, the defendants and others at large conspired to commit the offences on November 27, 2020.

“The defendants, on Nov. 27, 2020, at  6.45 p.m., at Odo-Ogun via Akinwunmi area, Ibadan, while armed with guns attacked one Adamu Ibrila and dispossessed him of his cell phone valued at N25,000.

“The defendants unlawfully kidnapped Adamu and collected ransom of N7 million from his brother, Usman Ibrila, before releasing him after five days in their captivity.

“On August 20, at 8: 00 p.m., the defendants kidnapped Chede Usman, 14, unlawfully, and collected N1.6 million from his father, Usman Ibrila, before releasing the boy after spending four days in their captivity,” Mr Opaleye said.

(NAN)