By Bamidele Kolawole

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An Akure Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded a herder, Muhammadu Bashiru Bello, the Olokuta Correctional Centre for kidnapping two men while on transit.

The prosecution accused the defendant of committing the crime on or about April, 20, 2022, at about 4:37 am, at 49 Area Ore, in the Akure Magisterial District.

According to the State Prosecutor, Damilola Akinmuwagun, Bello and others  at large forcefully kidnapped two persons, Adeleke Ojo and Baba Ibeji, along Benin-Owo express road.

The defendant and his accomplices were said to have whisked the two men into a bus while they were travelling on a public route.

The Prosecutor stated that the offences contravenes Sections

516, 3 (i),(ii), (a) and (b) of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010.

The plea of the defendant, who was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping was not taken.

Akinmuwagun, therefore, moved an application to remand the defendant in prison custody pending guidance from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP).

However, the defendant counsel, Ola Adedire objected to the prosecutor’s request and urged the court to grant her client bail in the most liberal terms .

Adedire said she was just served the remand application in the open court, and needed time to file a counter-affidavit.

But the Magistrate, Musa A Yunus, remanded the defendant in Olokuta Correctional Centre.

He adjourned the case till August 19, 2022 for further mention.