By Tope Musowo
Lagos
Four suspected kidnappers of a Lagos monarch, Oba Goriola Oseni, were yesterday arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, Lagos on eight-count charge.
The monarch was abducted in his palace at Iba on July 16 , 2016, with the kidnappers demanding N500 million.
Charges against the accused: Duba Furejo, Ododomo Isaiah, Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh, border on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and kidnapping.
Prosecutor, Adeniji Kazeem, the Attorney-General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 16 at the oba’s palace in Iba.
Kazeem, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said that the accused conspired with others at large and kidnapped the traditional ruler adding that they murdered two people, a palace guard, Sunday Okanlawon, and a commercial motorcyclist, Joseph Okeke, in the course of committing the crime.
The prosecutor said that the accused who were armed with guns and robbed the monarch’s wife, Abosede Oseni, of her cell phone and attempted to murder her.
He said the offences contravened Sections 223, 230, 297, 299, 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
They, however, denied the charges.
The prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody.
Justice Taiwo ordered the accused to be remanded and adjourned the case till November 4, 11 and 18 for trial.
First, second and third accused were represented by defence council, Seliowei, while J. O. Eguraoje, represented the fourth accused in court.
