Grace Ogunleye, vice-chairman of Ilejemeje Local government Area (LGA) in Ekiti State, has been remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre following her arraignment on charges bordering on conspiracy and self-kidnapping.
Ogunleye was arraigned on Wednesday, June 3, alongside three others before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Spokesperson for the Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, said the suspects were arraigned after investigations into the allegations against them.
Akinwale Oriyomi, the prosecutor, told the court that the case file had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice and requested the remand of the defendants.
Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
Ogunleye was declared kidnapped on May 20 after her vehicle was found abandoned along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti Road.
Initial reports indicated that she had been abducted by gunmen shortly after leaving the council secretariat.
She was later rescued unharmed during a joint operation by security operatives.
However, police investigations later indicated that the kidnapping was staged to raise funds for personal financial obligations and outstanding political commitments.
Pius Dada, chairman of the LGA, condemned the development, describing it as embarrassing and unacceptable.
He warned that such actions could undermine public trust in government officials and security agencies, adding that no public office holder would be shielded from justice if found culpable.
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