Court Reviews Alleged Self‑Kidnapping Case Involving Ekiti Local Government Vice Chairman

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado-Ekiti

Today’s session at the Ado‑Ekiti Chief Magistrates Court will resume the case involving Grace Ogunleye, the Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area in Ekiti State. Ogunleye is accused of allegedly orchestrating her own kidnapping.

She is being tried together with three other defendants—Raheem Ganiyu, Sodiq Akorede, and Fajuyi Adenike—after they were arraigned following police investigations into the alleged incident.

The defendants face charges that include conspiracy, aiding kidnapping, arranging kidnapping, and kidnapping, related to an event that allegedly took place on May 20 in Iye‑Ekiti, within the same local government area. In the previous hearing, police prosecutor Samson Osobu claimed that Ogunleye had collaborated with the other defendants to stage her abduction.

According to the prosecution, the matter came to light after a report of her supposed kidnapping was filed with the police. Investigations reportedly uncovered evidence indicating that the vice chairman herself had orchestrated the incident.

The prosecutor informed the court that the alleged offenses violate Sections 279, 280, and 281 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

Following an application by the prosecution, Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ordered that the four defendants be remanded at the correctional centre while awaiting legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The court then adjourned the matter until today for mention and further proceedings.

The case has attracted widespread public attention because it involves a serving local government vice chairman and the unusual allegation that she allegedly arranged her own abduction.