The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has affirmed the conviction of the dethroned Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Mutiu Ogundare for faking his own abduction
The court, however, reduced Ogundare’s sentence to 12 years from the 15 years initially handed down on him by the lower court.
Recall that Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High in Ikeja had on September 27, 2022, sentenced the dethroned Baale to 15 years imprisonment.
Ogundare, not pleased with the judgement, approached the appellate court to challenge the decision of the lower court.
A three-man panel of the appellate court in a unanimous judgment upheld the ruling of the lower court in counts one and two and overturned count three.
The lead judge, Justice Peter Bassi said that Ogundare’s appeal succeeded in part and reduced his sentence to 12 years.
The court held,” The Appellant is to serve 10 years imprisonment, for count one and two years for counts two, respectively.”.
On the third count, the court overturned the sentence in respect of false representation to release a kidnapped person.
Other Justices of the panel, Justice Bayero and Folashade Ojo, concurred with the lead judgement.
Ogundare was prosecuted alongside his wife, Abolanle and brother, Opeyemi Mohammed.
They were arraigned on three counts bordering on conspiracy, breach of peace and fake kidnapping, preferred against them by the Lagos State government.
Justice Oshodi, on June 15, 2022, convicted Ogundare and his brother Opeyemi Mohammed on three counts bordering on conspiracy and fake abduction.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted Ogundare’s wife, Abolanle saying that she had no link to the offences.
