Gold Kolawole, the child who got missing during a service at the popular Sotitobire Praising Chapel in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has not been found after.
On the contrary, the man who claimed to have kidnapped the child and who was arrested in Port Harcourt has been remanded in prison custody by an Ondo State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Akure.
The judge said that Chibuzor Ejike should be remanded in a correctional centre for making fraudulent claims.
Ejike was arrested last week in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after he allegedly sent a text message to the wife of the church’s founder, Mrs Bisola Babatunde, demanding the sum of N800,000 as ransom for the release of Gold.
Gold, who went missing during a service in the church on Sunday, November 10, 2019, has not been found, while the founder of the church, Alfa Babatunde, is standing trial at a magistrates’ court over the boy’s disappearance.
The 39-year-old Ejike was arraigned before the court on three counts of felony, threat and demanding with menace.
According to Inspector Adeoye Adesegun, police prosecutor, Ejike committed the offences on December 14, 2019.
He stated that the offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 509, 406 and 407 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
Adesegun prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable him to study the file.
Isaac Adubazi, counsel for Ejike, did not oppose the request for adjournment but prayed the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms.
In his ruling, the magistrate, Mr Mayomi Olanipekun, ordered that the defendant should be remanded in the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending legal advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the state.
He thereafter adjourned the case to February 20, 2020, for further hearing.