A Magistrate’s Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, yesterday remanded a 30-year old Methodist priest, Rev. Peter Adegoke Adewuyi, in prison custody for allegedly faking his own kidnap to obtain a ransom.
The court presided by Mr. Kehinde Awosika also remanded Adewuyi’s accomplice in the crime, Mr. Oluwadare Ajewole, 25, pending their next appearance in court.
Adewuyi and Ajewole were arrested by the Police on June 11 and will be tried for aiding, arranging and abetting kidnapping.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Monica Ikebuilo, said the offences are contrary to, and punishable under Sections 5 and 7 of Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law 2015”.
The prosecutor told the court that the act was committed within the Ado Ekiti Magisterial District on June 11.
Adewuyi had allegedly claimed that he was kidnapped between Ijebu Jesa in Osun State and Aramoko in Ekiti State while on a journey.
The priest allegedly hid in a hotel in Ado Ekiti on the pretence that he had been ‘kidnapped’ claiming that his ‘captors’ were demanding N3 million ransom from his church members and other members of the public.
At the court sitting on yesterday, Awosika, ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody pending the issuance of legal advice from the director of public prosecutions.
She subsequently adjourned the case till July 24, 2019.
