An Osogbo Magistrates’ court, yesterday, remanded a 28-year-old man, Bayo Odebo in prison custody for alleged kidnapping of a 31-year-old woman, Ojo Suwebatu.
The police prosecutor, Sergeant Elisha Olusegun said that Odebo committed the offence on July 5, 2012 at Sabo Area, Ile Ife, Osun State.
He said that the accused allegedly kidnapped Suwebatu and took her to an unknown destination “thus preventing her husband from knowing her whereabout,” and added that the whereabout and condition of the victim could not be ascertained up till the moment of arraignment.
He said that the offence was contrary to and punishable under section 364(2) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11, Laws of Osun 2003.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the one count charge brought against him and his counsel, Mrs Nnena Ngwu, orally applied for his bail in the most liberal terms.
The prosecutor objected to the bail application of the accused on the ground that the evidence available to the police indicated that the victim was probably dead, and said that there was the probability that the accused might run away knowing the gravity of the offence committed.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Adewumi Makanjuola, directed the defense counsel to file formal application for bail and ordered that the accused be remanded at Ilesa prison. He adjourned the case till the bail application was filed.
In a related development, a 20-year-old man, Ogundeji Morufu, was remanded in prison custody, yesterday, for alleged rape of an 11 year-old girl.
Police prosecutor, Elisha Olusegun, had informed the court that the accused on Aug 15 at about 4 pm committed the crime at Nathan Village Ifetedo in Ife-East Local Government Area, Osun.
Olusegun alleged that the accused unlawfully had canal knowledge of the girl without her consent, “the offence contravenes section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11, Laws of Osun 2003.”