Lagos monarch puts lie to govt, police claim that nothing was paid for his release; kidnappers got N15.1m

A Lagos State monarch, the traditional ruler of Iba Town, Oba Goriola Oseni, on Friday told a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere that his kidnappers freed him after they received N15.1million ransom from his family members.

73-year-old Oseni, who stated this while giving evidence at the commencement of trial of the four men accused of kidnapping him, added that their initial demand for his release was N500million.

This is against the impression given by the police and the state government that the traditional ruler was rescued without ransom being paid. Both authorities were silent on the issue of ransom paid, when the monarch regained his freedom.
The alleged culprits are, Duba Furejo, Ododowo Isaiah, Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh. They were first charged before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo on October 24, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, robbery, armed robbery, stealing and kidnapping preferred against them by the Lagos state government.

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), who led a team of lawyers for the state, at the commencement of hearing got the leave of court to exclude the public from the trial.

His request was granted by the court not minding the fact that all three counsel for the accused objected to it. Mr Selowei Baidi was for the first and second accused, Mr J. O. Egwuaroje for the third accused while Anthony Onwueze represented the fourth accused.

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In his submission, Justice Taiwo, held that there was nothing prejudicial about Kazeem’s prayer and assured the defence counsel of fair hearing. She therefore ordered all journalists in court to identify themselves with their official identification card in order to be allowed to cover the proceedings.

Oba Oseni, as first prosecution witness, explained how at about 8:00pm on July 16, he was abducted while watching TV in his palace.

According to him, the kidnappers dragged him out of the palace, killed his security guard and a motorcyclist and demanded N500 million ransom, of which his family were able to pay N12 million and another N3.1million, totalling N15.1million before he was freed.

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