(Ijuo Samson. Photo by News Express)
Ijuo Samson, 29, was arraigned in an Ojo Magistrate Court on Monday on charges of conspiracy and kidnapping a minor in Lagos State’s Ojo area.
According to the charge sheet, Charge No. 0/1160/2026, the defendant faces two counts in the case filed by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.
The first count alleges that Ijuo Samson and others still at large conspired to commit a felony, specifically to carry out an abd*ction, between June 2025 and February 2026 at Banire Extension, Mosafejo, Ojo, within the Ojo Magisterial District.
This offence is punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The second count alleges that on the same date, time and location, the defendant and others at large abd*cted a minor, taking the victim to an unknown destination without his parents’ knowledge. This is punishable under Section 269 of the same law.
The matter was presented before the court by prosecutor ASP Esther Adesulu, with the case being handled by the Ojo Division of the Nigeria Police Force.
Court documents listed the Investigating Police Officer as CPL Adejoke Oyetakin, also of the Ojo Division.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecutor asked the court to fix a hearing date to allow police to prove the allegations.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs O.M. Ogun, granted him bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and proof of tax payment.
The case was adjourned for mention, while the defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Center pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The Divisional Police Officer for Ojo was listed as CSP Opeifa Omolola. As at the time of filing this report, the police had not issued any further statement on the matter beyond what was contained in the charge sheet.
Section 411 of the Lagos State Criminal Law addresses conspiracy, while Section 269 covers the offence of abd*ction, both of which are punishable under Lagos State law.
The defendant remains subject to the bail conditions granted by the court pending the next adjourned date, with the prosecution expected to present its case at the next sitting.
Legal experts note that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.