MICHAEL AKINOLA
Facts have emerged how a secondary school principal, Matthew Afolabi, staged his own kidnap after he allegedly swindled an association to the tune of N12m in order to escape prosecution in Ondo State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports his efforts to cover up failed because he was later arrested and charged before Akure Magistrates Court in Ondo State and remanded in custody over the alleged fraud and feigning his abduction.
The incident happened at Igbara Oke, Ifedore Council area of the state.
The defendant was arrested by operatives of the State Security outfit codenamed Amotekun, and charged to Court on two counts of fraud and faking his kidnap under the Criminal Laws of the State.
He was said to have faked his Kidnap after defrauding members of an association, Ifesowapo CTS, to the tune of N12 million.
His family members, staff, friends and members of lfesowapo CTS Association, were said to have reported him to the Amotekun office in the state capital and he was promptly arrested and charged before the Court for the alleged offence.
The prosecution counsel, Segun Akeredolu, told the Court that the defendant committed the offence by fraudulently converting the sum of N12 million, property of Ifesowapo CTS Association members and falsely presenting himself as a victim of kidnapping in order to convert the N12million to his own use.
He allegedly claimed that he was abducted by unknown gunmen and held hostage somewhere in the bush and called his family members and friends to assist him with the payment of ransom to secure his release.
Barr. Akeredolu said that the offences contravened Sections 383 and Punishable Under Sections 390(9) and 9 of Ondo State Anti- Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010.
However, the Court did not take his plea plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor asking the Court to remand him at Olokuta Correctional Centre pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The defence counsel, B.H Awi, prayed the Court for an adjournment to enable him file a counter affidavit to the remand application made by the prosecutor.
The Presiding Magistrate, Damilola Sekoni, ordered his remand at Olokuta Correctional Centre pending the advice from the office of the DPP, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.