The Court of Appeal Lagos Division yesterday affirmed the conviction of the dethroned Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Mutiu Ogundare for faking his own abduction.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High in Ikeja had on September 27, 2022, sentenced the dethroned Baale to 15 years imprisonment.
Dissatisfied with the judgment Ogundare approached the court to challenge the decision of the lower court.
Delivering judgment, the lead Justice of the three man, Justice Peter Bassi upheld the judgment of the lower court in counts one and two and upturned count three.
Justice Bassi said that Ogundare’s appeal succeeds in part and reduced his sentence to 12 years.
The court held,” The Appellant is to serve 10 years imprisonment, for count one and two years for counts two, respectively.”.
On the third count, the court upturned the sentence in respect of false representation to release a kidnapped person.
Other Justices of the panel, Justice Bayero and Folashade Ojo, concurred with the lead judgement.
The convict was first remanded on July 16, 2017, in Kirikiri Prison, by an Ogba Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly faking his own kidnap.
Ogundare was prosecuted alongside his wife, Abolanle and brother, Opeyemi Mohammed.
They were arraigned on three counts bordering on conspiracy, breach of peace and fake kidnapping, preferred against them by the Lagos State government.
Justice Oshodi, on June 15, 2022, convicted Ogundare and his brother Opeyemi Mohammed on three counts bordering on conspiracy and fake abduction.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted Ogundare’s wife,Abolanle saying that she had no link to the offences.
