9th August, 2011
Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, have arraigned a suspected kidnapper before an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.
The suspect, Kingsley Nwaodu, 30, was alleged to have stolen a year and half old boy, Abdulmalik Yusuf, on 18 May, 2011, at Baale Street, Ijora-Badia, Lagos.
Investigations revealed that detectives trailed him to Imo State, Southeast Nigeria, where he took the little boy when he demanded for money from the parents of the boy.
He was arrested and transferred to the State CID for interrogation. He allegedly confessed kidnapping the boy and was arraigned on one-count charge of kidnapping. The offence, according to the prosecutor, Corporal Babaji Ishaku, is contrary to Section 317 (1)(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap. C17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
The charge reads: “That you, Kingsley Nwaodu, 30, on 18 May, 2011, at about 7 p.m. at 13, Baale Street, Ijora Badia, in the Lagos Magisterial District did steal a boy of about one and half year old, Abdulmalik Yusuf, from the lawful care of parent/ guardian without a just cause and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 317(1)(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap. C17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003. “
He pleaded not guilty to the charge and Mrs. Joy Ugbomoiko, the presiding magistrate, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties, she ordered must show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State government; means of livelihood and must be residents of Lagos.
The case has been adjourned till 6 September, 2011 for mention.
—Paul Sanusi