Ondo: 4 suspects remanded for alleged kidnapping, robbing of Chinese nationals

Four suspected kidnappers and armed robbers have been remanded in a correctional facility in Ondo State.

The suspects who were remanded by a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, the state capital were accused of allegedly kidnapping a Chinese national, Zhang Jiande.

The suspects – Olawale Bakinde, Moses Moni Edafe, Elokumor Okutu and Wisdom lgono were alleged to have committed the offence at the Omotosho axis of the state along Ore/Ijebu-Ode expressway.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them, that they conspired to commit felony to with kidnapping and armed robbery.

The suspects who were also charged with unlawful possession of weapons and theft had during the operation robbed one Feng Wen Xue, a Chinese citizen who works at Wewood company Omotosho of his Redmi telephone handset valued at N280,000.

According to the Prosecutor, Inspector Adeoye Adesegun, the accused persons were armed with an unlicensed gun as well as a knife while they robbed and kidnapped their victims.

The charge sheet which read in part stated, ”That you, Olawale Bakinde, Moses Moni Edafe, Elokumor Okutu and Wisdom lgono and others at large on the same date, time and place did within the aforementioned Magisterial District while armed with dangerous weapons did kidnap one Zhang Jiande a Chinese citizen who work at Wewood company Omotosho and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(I)(b) of the Ondo State Anti kidnapping and Anti Abduction Laws,2010.

The offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section l(1) (2) (a) of Robbery and Firearms ( Special Provision) Act Cap Rll , LFN 2004.

Magistrate Olanipekun Mayomi remanded the 1st, 2nd and 3rd accused persons in prison custody, while he granted the 4th defendant bail in the sum of One Million Naira with a surety in like sum.

The case was subsequently adjourned till December 9, 2021.