Court arraigns farmer over alleged kidnap, murder in Ondo

By Boye Oyeyemi

A 56-year-old farmer, Jimoh Ogbe, has been arraigned before an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State over the alleged kidnapping and murder of a man identified as Ojo Igbara.

Ogbe was brought before Chief Magistrate O. Omotosho on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and unlawful possession of ammunition.

The prosecutor, Folashade Adeyemi, told the court that the defendant and other suspects still at large allegedly conspired on February 21, 2026, at about 5 p.m. in Isua Akoko to commit the offences.

According to the prosecution, Ogbe allegedly abducted Igbara and took him to an unknown location, where he was later killed.

Adeyemi further alleged that the defendant was found in possession of a live cartridge without giving a satisfactory explanation of how he came to possess it.

The prosecution said the alleged offences contravene Sections 516 and 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006, Section 3(1)(ii)(b) of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Abduction Law, 2010, and Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act.

Responding, the defence counsel, Olugbenga Adedugbe, sought an adjournment to enable him file a counter-affidavit to the prosecution’s application for the defendant’s remand pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Chief Magistrate Omotosho therefore adjourned the case until July 9, 2026, for hearing of the application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre pending further proceedings.