BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE
LAGOS — Seven persons were, yesterday, brought before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere for allegedly kidnapping one Ayodele Olaoye and receiving N5 million as ransom.

Among the defendants were two women, Esther Faith Phillip; 22 and Patricia Ina; 25. Others are Kingsley Okonwa; 30, Osita Adigwe; 34, Uzochukwu Ezioha; 24, Jude Sunday; 35 and Michael Olanrewaju, 30.

The defendants were arraigned on a four-count charge of kidnapping and conspiracy to rob, to which they pleaded not guilty, but were remanded in prison custody.

According to charge ID/13C/2013: “Esther Faith Phillip, Patricia Ina, Kingsley Okonwa (a.k.a. Dragon), Osita Adigwe (a.k.a O/C), Uzochukwu Ezioha (a.k.a. Black), Jude Sunday (a.k.a. Buldozer) and Michael Olanrewaju, on April 22, 2012 at Iba‑Lasu Road, at about 16.00hrs, did kidnap one Ayodele Olaoye and received the sum of five million naira from one Engr. Segun Olaoye, as ransom.”

In the charge, the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs Olabisi Ogungbesan, informed the court that the offence was contrary to Section 269 (3) of the Criminal Law, Laws of Lagos State 2011.

At the resumed hearing, Ogungbesan tendered her written address and apologised to the trial judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, over the lateness.

Obviously dissatisfied that the adoption of written addresses would not commence, the judge gave counsel one week to file their reply.

Counsel to the 6th defendant, Mr. C. J. Jakuna, however, told the court he has a bail application for his client, “who was charged for conspiracy and negligence.”