Fake Kidnapping: Ambode Deposes Traditional Ruler of Shangisha

• Orders his prosecution

By Gboyega Akinsanmi

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday deposed the suspended Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Chief Yusuf Ogundare for faking his abduction which allegedly took place on July 5 along Center for Management Development (CMD) Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state.

Governor Ambode had last Friday suspended Ogundare moments after he was paraded alongside his brother, Mohammed Adams by the Lagos State Police Command for conspiring to fake the alleged kidnap.

In a press release signed by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Muslim Folami, the governor ordered Ogundare to henceforth desist from parading himself as the Baale of Shangisha or discharge any duties attached to chieftaincy matters in the state.

Folami, in the statement, said: “This is to inform the public that Governor Ambode has authorised the deposition and prosecution by police of Chief Yusuf Mutiu Ogundare, Baale of Shangisha with immediate effect.

“This is in accordance with Section 38, subsection 1 of the Obas and Chiefs Laws of Lagos State inter-alia “The governor may suspend or depose any Oba or Chief whether appointed before or after commencement of this law, if he is satisfied that such suspension or deposition is required according to customary law or is necessary in the interest of peace or good government.”

“Furthermore, he (Ogundare) is to stop parading himself, purports to exercise or discharge any of the duties attached to chieftaincy matters with immediate effect.”

Folami said the deposition follows the formal confession of the Baale to security services that he staged his own kidnap to blackmail the state government.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, while parading the suspects at the Lagos House in Ikeja, had narrated how they conspired to perfect the fake kidnap, all in a bid to implicate the Oba of Magodo, as well as rubbish the state government and security agencies.

Owoseni said six days after the incidence, some men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on patrol in Alausa area at about 10p.m.apprehended Ogundare after he was dropped in a suspicious manner by a car which sped off immediately.