Lagos schoolgirls kidnap: Court remands six suspects in prison

Six men, who allegedly took part in the kidnap of the three schoolgirls of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu, Lagos were yesterday remanded at Ikoyi Prisons on the order of an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chief Magistrate, Mrs. O.I. Adelaja, who gave the order, said the accused should be remanded in prison pending advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The accused persons — Emmanuel Arigidi (37), Gift Pius (30), Fred Omoni (32), Geofrey Owei (28), Seun Akanji (33) and Segun James (29) — are facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnap, being armed with offensive weapons and robbery.

Counsel from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Panti, Lagos, Mr. G.O. Osuyi, said the accused conspired with others still at large on February 25 at Maya under-bridge along Ikorodu-Imota Road to kidnap three girls from the college.

The girls are between the ages of 14 and 15.

He said the accused, armed with AK 47, also robbed the Principal of the college, Ven. Olaoluwa Adeyemi, of the sum of N5.6 million.

Osuyi alleged that the first accused, (Arigidi), who was armed with AK 47, on March 12, last year, at Admiralty Way, Lekki robbed one of the new generation banks at Ikorodu area and made away with N24.5 million.

Arigidi is alleged to be one of the robbers that unleashed terror in Ikorodu area and robbed several banks last year.
Counsel to the accused, Mr. Ola Ogunbiyi, however, did not oppose their remand in prison.