N15m was paid to secure my freedom, says kidnapped Lagos monarch Oniba

THE trial of four suspects in the kidnap of the traditional ruler of Iba Town, Oba Goriola Oseni, commenced yesterday at a Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, with a revelation from two witnesses that the abductors allegedly obtained two ransoms worth N15.1million.

The first to fourth defendants Duba Furejo, Ododowo Isaiah, Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh were arraigned for the alleged offence before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo on October 24. They are standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, robbery, armed robbery, felony and kidnapping preferred against them by the Lagos State Government. At the commencement of proceedings, Lagos State

Attorney- General and Commissioner of Justice Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), who led a team of counsel for the state, obtained leave of court to exclude the public from the trial. Led in examination by Kazeem, Oseni, 73, testified as first prosecution witness and narrated how at about 8pm on July 16, he was kidnapped while watching TV in a room at the palace and held in captivity for three weeks in an unknown riverine camp.

 “‘This is the king,’ the gunmen said. I said, ‘what can I do for you?’ Then they grabbed me. I was putting on only a boxer short because I was preparing to take a bath. My Oloris (queens) came in and asked them where they were taking me to but they fled when the gunmen released bullets gunshots into the decking of the room. They started pushing me and shouting ‘trek, trek’, till I fell and injured my arm. My toe nail was also forcibly removed, so they carried me,” Oseni said. He pointed at the first, second and third defendants in the dock as being part of his alleged abductors, but explained that the fourth defendant was one of those that used to visit the camp