KINGSLEY EBERE
Police operatives from the Tactical Squad, Ikorodu Annex, have arrested a 48-year old suspected kidnapping gang leader, Monday Adebanjo, over the abduction of three Lebanese with two Nigerians and obtaining $40,000 Dollars equivalent of N68m as ransom in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Adebayo, who is the leader of the gang, allegedly conspired and kidnapped the victims on 29th June, 2024, at Ebute Ero area of Lagos and kept them in captivity until they paid the ransom before they were released.
The alleged kidnapping was reported to the Commissioner of Police, who directed the Tactical Squad to fish out the kidnappers. The operatives moved into action and eventually arrested Adebayo in his hideout.
Apart from arresting the key suspect, Adebayo, the Police also recovered arms including pump action gun and (2) two locally made pistols used during their operations as exhibits.
While the operatives are still hunting for other gang members now at large, their leader, Adebanjo, has been charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged kidnapping and possession of firearms under the Criminal Laws of the State.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Monday Adebanjo ‘m’ and others still at large on or before the 29th June, 2024 at about 0600hrs at Ebute Ero Area Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:” That you, Monday Adebanjo ‘m’ and others still at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did kidnap three Lebanese and two Nigerians by unlawfully capturing them and collecting ransom of about Forty Eighty Thousand Dollars for their release and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 271 (1) (2) and (3) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Monday Adebanjo ‘m’ and others still at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did knowingly buy or received arms in your possession, and cannot give a satisfactory account of one pump action gun and two locally made pistols used in your unlawful operations and thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 330 (d) of the criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
The Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned after the prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the seriousness of the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when the DPP’s report will be ready and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be ready, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.