Attempted kidnap: Court discharges suspect

A Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikeja has struck out a charge filed by the police against Adebayo Orekoya over alleged attempt to kidnap a Lagos socialite, Adelekun Victor, popularly known as Ade Lexus.

   The Chief Magistrate, A. O. Komolafe, who presided over the matter, discharged the alleged suspect for lack of diligent prosecution. 

   The police had arraigned Orekoya in August 2014 for allegedly conspiring with other persons, who were also standing trial in another court for alleged attempt to kidnap Ade Victor.

   The police alleged that Orekoya on May 10, 2014 persistently followed Ade from Ibadan in Oyo State to Pekas Club on Allen Avenue, Lagos with the intent to kidnap him.

   Part of the charge reads: “That you Adebayo Orekoya and others already charged to Magistrate’s Court 2, Ikeja, in Charge No. MIK/B/132/2014, on May 10, 2014 at about 23:30hrs at Pekas Club, Allen Avenue, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did attempt to kidnap Ade Victor by persistently following him from Ibadan in Oyo State to Pekas Club, Allen Avenue, Lagos.”

   The offence is punishable under Section 271 and 410 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011. 

   Orekoya pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him.

   However, after several adjournments caused by the failure of prosecution witnesses and the Police Investigating Officer (IPO), to appear before the court, Magistrate Komolafe struck out the matter for lack of diligent prosecution.