The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of Mutiu Ogundare, the dethroned Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, for staging his own kidnapping. In a judgment delivered on behalf of a three-man panel, Justice Paul Bassi affirmed the lower court’s decision, but reduced Ogundare’s sentence from 15 years to 12 years.
Ogundare had appealed the September 27, 2022, judgment of the Lagos State High Court, which convicted him and sentenced him to 15 years in prison. The appellate court upheld the conviction on counts one and two but overturned count three, which related to false representation to release a kidnapped person.
The court ordered Ogundare to serve 10 years for count one and two years for count two. Justices Abdullahi Bayero and Folashade Ojo concurred with the lead judgment.
Ogundare was initially remanded in Kirikiri Prison on July 16, 2017, for allegedly faking his kidnapping. He was prosecuted alongside his wife, Abolanle, and brother, Opeyemi Mohammed, on a three-count charge of conspiracy, breach of peace, and fake kidnapping. On June 15, 2022, Justice Hakeem Oshodi convicted Ogundare and his brother, reserving judgment until September 27, 2022.
