Hoodlums in court for abducting policeman in Ondo
Two men, Lekan Osansan and Olubodun Oladimeji, were arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Wednesday, for abducting a police inspector, Michael Aromeh.
Aromeh, who was abducted while in uniform by the defendants, was allegedly taken to an unknown destination last month. A team of policemen however was said to have swung into action and rescued their abducted colleague.
The defendants were arraigned on three counts bordering on kidnapping.
The charge sheet read, “That, you, Lekan Osansan, ‘M’ and Olubodun Oladimeji, “M’, on the 12th day of January in the Akure Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to wit kidnapping of Inspector Aromeh Michael on the uniform from NTA Junction to an unknown destination and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 vol (1) Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
“That, you, Lekan Osansan, ‘M’ and Olubodun Oladimeji, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did kidnap Inspector Aromeh Michael to an unknown destination and was rescued by ASP Yahaya Ondeku and five others and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 364 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 vol [1] Laws of Ondo State Nigeria 2006.
“That, you, Lekan Osansan, ‘M’ and Olubodun Oladimeji, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by kidnaping Inspector Aromeh Michael to an unknown destination without his consent and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (D) of Criminal Code Cap37 Volume [1] Laws of Ondo State Nigeria 2006.”
The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them but the police prosecutor, Matins Olowofeso, asked the court to grant the suspects bail on stringent conditions.
Ruling, the Chief Magistrate, R.A Olumilua, granted the bail to the defendants in the sum of N1m and two sureties in like sum. According to the magistrate, the sureties must be a Grade-level 14 officer in the state civil service while the other surety must be a clergyman or a recognised chief.
The magistrate also ordered that the sureties must deposit N500,000 each to the court and fixed March 5, 2025, for the hearing of the case.
