By Akinola Boluwatife

A 17-year-old boy, Oluwatimileyin Agunloko, and a 32-year-old woman, Omolola Adebayo, have been arraigned before an Akure Magistrate Court, for abducting a 14-year-old girl.

The defendants who are neighbours were charged with two counts bordering on conspiracy and abduction.

The prosecutor, Inspector Simon Wada, informed the court that the defendants committed the offences on October 28, 2023, at about 1:pm in Owo, Owo Local Government area of Ondo State.

Wada said Agunloko conspired with the woman, his neighbour, to abduct his 14-year-old ex-lover, one Victory Oluwatoyin.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 516 and 225 of the Criminal Laws of Ondo, 2006.

The charges read,” That you, Omolola,Adebayo, ‘F’;  Oluwatimilehin Agunloko ‘M’ and others at large on October 28, 2023 at about 1:10pm at Owo, in the aforementioned Magisterial district did conspire to commit felony to wit: abduction 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, Omolola, Adebayo, ‘F’;  Oluwatimilehin Agunloko ‘M’ and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district, did abduct one Victory Oluwatoyin ‘F’ aged 14 years and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 225 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

When the charges were read to the duo, they pleaded not guilty to the offences leveled against them.

The prosecutor informed the court that police investigation revealed that a day to the incident, there was a phone conversation between the defendants and the victim among 1:00 pm, which linked the duo to the commission of the crime.

Wada, therefore,  prayed for an adjournment to enable him study the case file and gather the prosecution witnesses who will testify in the case.

Magistrate Damilola Sekoni granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties each in like sum.

He ordered the police to get the record of the conversation between the defendants and the victim from their phone network provider.

The magistrate adjourned the case till January 18, 2024, for a hearing.