Thirteen suspected smugglers were yesterday rearraigned before a Magistrate Court 1 in Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun State for allegedly kidnapping an operative of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdul-Rasheed Salami. Salami, an Inspector of Customs, who was attached to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the agency, was reportedly kidnapped in April and his whereabouts have since remained unknown. During the operation, the smugglers allegedly destroyed two vehicles belonging to Customs, including a Toyota Hilux with registration number AP 80 CS and Toyota Hummer bus marked AQ 74 CS. In the amended charge sheet marked MA/797C/2018 and read before the court, the accused were said to have committed the offence on April 14, 2018 along the Ilo-Awela Road, near the Toll-Gate axis of Sango-Ota, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.
They were arraigned on three consolidated count charges bor-dering on kidnapping, conspiracy and malicious damage punishable under sections 516, 364 and 451 (B) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State. The accused include Ojewale Abiodun, 22; Idowu Ogundepo, 32; Saheed Akanbi, 33; Oladele Dayo, 34; Raji Jamiu, 38; Bankole Akeem, 20; and Sanni Saheed, 44. Others are Bukola Tosin, 30; Akintola Hammed, 20; Olufemi Odedipe, 44; Fatai Adesina, 34; Owolabi Mustapha, 39; and Hassan Rofiat, 22.
The accused were on August 5, 2018 arraigned on three counts before the magistrate court 1 and 2 presided over by Magistrate A.I. Adelaja in the suits MA/347C/2018 and MA/559C/2018 but they were later granted bail. During their rearraignment yesterday, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them. Counsel to the defendants prayed the court to allow them to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them.
Though the prosecutor, Bale Nimnan, did not oppose the application, he urged the court to commence the hearing immediately. Nimnan said his witnesses, including three Customs officers and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in charge of the case, have been lined up as witnesses against the accused. But ruling on the matter, the Magistrate, Titilayo Bello, adjourned hearing till December 18, 2018 for continuation of the matter.
