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Appeal Court Affirms Dethroned Magodo Monarch’s Jail Term Over Fake Kidnap

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The Court of Appeal in Lagos has upheld the conviction of Mutiu Ogundare, the former Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Lagos State, for staging his own abduction.

On September 27, 2022, Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja sentenced Ogundare to 15 years in prison. However, Ogundare appealed the decision, seeking to overturn the conviction.

On Monday, the Court of Appeal heard the case, with Mr. Jubril Kareem representing the respondent and Mr. Kayode Ojo representing the appellant. In a judgment delivered by the lead Justice, Peter Bassi, the three-man panel upheld the lower court’s decision on counts one and two but overturned count three. The other justices on the panel, Bayero and Folashade Ojo, concurred with the lead justice.

While the appeal was partially successful, the court reduced Ogundare’s sentence from 15 years to 12 years. This means that Ogundare will serve a reduced term for his role in faking his own abduction.

The court, however, held, “The appellant is to serve 10 years imprisonment, for count one and two years for counts two, respectively.”

On the third count, the court upturned the sentence in respect of false representation to release a kidnapped person.

The convict was first remanded on July 16, 2017, in Kirikiri Prison, by an Ogba Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly faking his kidnap.

Ogundare was prosecuted alongside his wife, Abolanle and brother, Opeyemi Mohammed.

They were arraigned on three counts bordering on conspiracy, breach of peace and fake kidnapping, preferred against them by the Lagos State government.

Justice Oshodi, on June 15, 2022, convicted Ogundare and his brother Opeyemi Mohammed and reserved judgment till September 27, 2022.

Before their conviction, Ogundare’s  counsel Olarewaju Ajanaku, in his allocutus pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

Ajanaku told the court that the convict had turned a new leaf and that he did not think through his actions when he committed the offence.

The second defence counsel, Dr. Olayinka Owoeye, also in his allocutus prayed the court to temper justice with mercy adding that the convict (Mohammed),had learnt his lessons.

The said kidnap took place on July 5, 2017, but Ogundare later confessed to security services that he staged the kidnap to blackmail the state government.

He was allegedly abducted by three men along the Centre for Management Development Road, Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area.

The Baale was said to have received a phone call from alleged developers, who had indicated an interest in a landed property within his domain.

The callers told him where to meet them, prompting Ogundare to drive to the address with one of his brothers, Mohammed.

On arriving at the location, the three men appealed to the Baale and his brother to join them in their White Toyota Venza so that they could go and see the land.

It was stated that on their way, the Baale’s brother noticed one of the men had a gun with him and he raised alarm and the suspected kidnapper pushed the Baale’s brother out of the vehicle and sped off with the Baale.

In the same month, the former governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, ordered the removal of Ogundare as the baale of Shangisha.

BIG STORY

Buhari’s Integrity Gave Hope To Millions Of Nigerians — Tunde Bakare

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Tunde Bakare, the serving overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, has honoured the memory of former President Muhammadu Buhari with a heartfelt tribute.

Buhari passed away on Sunday at a clinic in London at the age of 82.

In a statement released on Monday, Bakare described Buhari’s life as “extremely impactful”, referring to him as a respected elder statesman and fellow patriot.

He shared memories of their first meeting in 1985 and said Buhari’s policies at the time created the foundation for his journey as a young legal practitioner.

This was a man whose integrity and discipline gave hope to millions of Nigerians across the length and breadth of our nation, he wrote.

This was a man with a dream of a New Nigeria — a dream he lived for; a dream he worked tirelessly towards from his youth; a dream he pursued persistently despite the challenges he encountered; a dream I had the privilege of teaming up with him in his tireless quest to fulfill; a dream that brought tears to his eyes; a dream, the heart of which he shared with me in intimate conversations — a dream that revealed the soul of a man whose lifelong desire was to make life better for the ordinary Nigerian.

He referred to Buhari as a colossus whose kind is hard to replace.

Bakare offered a prayer, hoping that Buhari will be remembered kindly by history and that the Nigeria he envisioned will still come to life even after you have departed.

I express my deep condolences to his beloved wife, former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and to his children and grandchildren. May God, the husband of the widow and the father of the fatherless, fill the void, the statement reads.

And to our dear nation, Nigeria, may God be our strength and comfort in this solemn season.

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BIG STORY

Osun 2026: Aregbesola Vows To Unseat Adeleke, Says ADC Will Win Guber Election

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Rauf Aregbesola, the interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said that his party will unseat Governor Ademola Adeleke in the upcoming 2026 Osun governorship election.

Aregbesola, who previously held the positions of Minister of Interior and Osun State Governor, made this statement on Sunday during a homecoming event held in Osogbo.

He emphasized that his main political objective at the moment is not the 2027 general election but securing victory for ADC in the 2026 Osun governorship election.

He suggested that the 2026 election might not feature the usual three-party race, as there are speculations that Governor Adeleke could defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

We are concerned about 2026 in Osun State. We have started the work for next year’s election now, Aregbesola said, encouraging party members to strengthen mobilisation at the grassroots level.

Leave them to their agitation. Our aim should be to take over Osun State before the vote on August 8, 2026. They already know they are on their way out.

Looking back on his break with the APC, a party he helped build, Aregbesola expressed regret that he was sidelined despite his efforts.

He stated, Those who know my value and worth gave me this new position, and now they are making noise. Their noise doesn’t concern me — they haven’t seen anything yet.

Aregbesola also spoke on the ongoing rumours surrounding Adeleke’s possible political defection: Before we started this journey, they said there would be three political parties in Osun State. It is obvious he is decamping now. We will meet in Abere — ADC will win the Osun governorship race in 2026.

Turning to national matters, Aregbesola criticised the current federal government, blaming it for worsening the economic situation in the country.

The government that makes Nigerians go hungry should not be in power again. Anyone who says Nigeria is better now is part of the problem. It’s clear that yesterday was better than today for us as a nation, he said. Since they assumed office, even the rain no longer falls as it used to. Things are not going well. We must be angry with any government that refuses to address our needs.

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National Assembly Suspends Plenary Till July 22 To Honour Buhari

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Legislative proceedings in the national assembly have been put on hold to pay respect to Muhammadu Buhari, the former president of Nigeria.

Buhari passed away on Sunday at a London clinic after battling a long-term illness.

The clerk of the national assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, shared this update through a statement released on Monday.

“I am directed by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives to inform all members of the national assembly and the general public that all legislative activities are hereby suspended immediately until Tuesday, 22 July, 2025,” the statement reads.

“All members of the national assembly are urged to reschedule their engagements to enable full participation in the burial activities of the late president.”

Leaders of both legislative chambers offered their sympathies to the government and citizens of Nigeria, the administration and residents of Katsina state, as well as the late president’s wives, children, and extended relatives.

“President Muhammadu Buhari will be remembered for his commitment to Nigeria’s unity and his integrity,” the statement notes.

“May Almighty Allah grant his soul eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus.”

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