Appeal Court Validates Ex-Baale’s Fraudulent Abduction Conviction

Appeal Court Validates Ex-Baale’s Fraudulent Abduction Conviction

The Court of Appeal in Lagos has upheld the conviction of Mutiu Ogundare, the former Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, for orchestrating a staged abduction. Originally sentenced to 15 years in prison by Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on September 27, 2022, Ogundare appealed the decision…….. CONTINUE READING

A three-judge panel led by Justice Paul Bassi upheld the lower court’s judgment on counts one and two but overturned the conviction on count three. Consequently, Ogundare’s sentence was reduced to 12 years, with 10 years for the first count and 2 years for the second count. The sentence related to false representation was overturned.

Justices Abdullahi Bayero and Folashade Ojo supported Justice Bassi’s lead judgment. Ogundare had been initially remanded in Kirikiri Prison on July 16, 2017, following accusations of staging his own kidnapping.

Alongside his wife Abolanle and brother Opeyemi Mohammed, Ogundare faced charges of conspiracy, breach of peace, and false kidnapping by the Lagos State Government. On June 15, 2022, Justice Oshodi convicted Ogundare and Opeyemi Mohammed but acquitted Abolanle, citing lack of evidence linking her to the crimes.

During the sentencing phase, Ogundare’s counsel, Olarewaju Ajanaku, and Dr. Olayinka Owoeye pleaded for leniency, highlighting Ogundare’s remorse and commitment to reform. In contrast, state prosecutor Jubril Kareem urged the court to impose a stringent sentence that reflects the gravity of the offense.

Justice Oshodi emphasized the need for a deterrent sentence, noting the absence of genuine remorse from the convicts and their attempts to evade justice. The staged kidnapping occurred on July 5, 2017, when Ogundare claimed he was abducted by three men during a meeting with purported property developers along CMD Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area. Ogundare later confessed that the abduction was orchestrated to extort the state government. Consequently, former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode deposed Ogundare as Baale of Shangisha following the incident.