The 30-year-old Methodist priest, Rev. Peter Adewuyi, who faked his kidnap, has been remanded in prison custody on the orders of an Ado Ekiti Magistrates’ Court.
Adewuyi allegedly faked his own kidnap in order to obtain money from his church members.
Also remanded for being part of the fake kidnap was 25-year-old Oluwadare Ajewole.
They are to remain in prison pending their next appearance in court, which the magistrate, Kehinde Awosika, fixed for July 24.
Adewuyi and his accomplice are facing three counts of aiding, arranging and abetting kidnapping were contrary to and punishable under sections 5 and 7 of the Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, 2015.
At Monday’s proceedings, the police prosecutor, Inspector Monica Ikebuilo, told the court that the suspects committed the crime within the Ado Ekiti Magisterial District.
Recall that Adewuyi had claimed that he was kidnapped between Ijebu-Jesa in Osun State and Aramoko in Ekiti State while embarking on a journey, but allegedly hid himself in a hotel in Ado Ekiti.
He then contacted his church members as well as members of the public claiming that his captors were demanding N3m as ransom.
The suspects were apprehended on June 11.
Magistrate, Awosika, ordered the accused persons be remanded in prison custody pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
