Ekiti LG vice chairman held over alleged fake kidnapping

The Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area in Ekiti State, Grace Ogunleye, has been held at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre. This follows her arraignment on charges of conspiracy and self-kidnapping.

Mrs Ogunleye was taken to court on Wednesday along with three other people. They appeared before a Chief Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, as reported by the Ekiti State Police Command.

Police spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, said the charges came after investigations into a reported kidnapping of the vice chairman. During the court proceedings, the prosecutor, Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the case file had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice. He asked that the defendants be held until further action.

Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun then ordered that the defendants be kept at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre. This development is a surprising turn in a case that raised concerns about security in Ilejemeje Local Government Area.

Earlier reports from PREMIUM TIMES indicated that Mrs Ogunleye was reported missing on May 20. Her car was found abandoned along the Ipere, Iludun Ekiti Road. Local government officials stated that she had been taken by suspected kidnappers while traveling to Ido-Ekiti after an official event in Ilejemeje.

This incident happened just three weeks after suspected gunmen kidnapped churchgoers in Eda Oniyo, which is also in Ilejemeje Local Government Area. Confirming the earlier report, Falade Sunday, the Director of Information and Civic Orientation in the council, said security agencies were working to find and rescue the vice chairman.

"The Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Mrs Grace Ogunleye, has reportedly been kidnapped along Ipere, Iludun Ekiti Road," Mr Sunday said. "According to reports, her vehicle was later found abandoned while her whereabouts remain unknown."

Mrs Ogunleye was later found safe after a security operation. However, police investigations took a different turn after claims surfaced that the kidnapping might have been staged. Authorities later suggested that the incident was planned to raise money for financial needs and political commitments.

Public interest grew after a Facebook user, Festus Ojo, claimed that the vice chairman had set up her own kidnapping because she could not meet commitments made to a politician after receiving funds. Police have not directly linked their investigation to the social media claims, but they moved forward with criminal charges after their inquiry.

In response to the allegations, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Pius Alaba Dada, condemned the actions and called for due process. In a statement reported by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Dada described the situation as “shocking, disturbing, and entirely unacceptable.”

Mr Dada said, “The attention of the Executive Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government has been drawn to the unfortunate incident involving the Vice Chairman, who was reportedly involved in a self-kidnapping arrangement and subsequently apprehended by the relevant security authorities.” He emphasized that no public official would escape accountability.

“We wish to assure the good people of Ilejemeje Local Government that no individual is above the law. The law must take its full course without interference, irrespective of status or political position,” he added. The chairman also praised security agencies for their investigation and urged residents to avoid spreading unverified news that could cause unrest in the local government area.

The case will continue once the Director of Public Prosecutions gives legal advice.