Suspended Lagos monarch who attempted to bribe judge jailed 15 years

Mutiu Ogundare, the suspended traditional ruler of Shangisha community in Lagos state, has bagged 15 years imprisonment.

The state arraigned Ogundare for faking his own kidnap, which took place on July 5, 2017, along the Centre for Management Development (CMD) Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state.

Following the development, then governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, suspended Ogundare on July 17, 2017.

In his presentation before the court, state prosecutor Jubril Kareem said Ogundare’s action could cause a breach of public peace and, as a result, he should be sentenced accordingly.

The defence counsel, Olarewaju Ajanaku, however pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy. He argued Ogundare had turned a new leaf and didn’t think through his action at the time.

In his ruling, the trial judge Hakeem Oshodi, said Ogundare did not show any contrition during his arraignment and had attempted to buy his way out of the court.

Oshodi said, “I have considered the allocutus of the defence counsels. However, it is in the view of this court that the defendants showed no remorse during the trial,” Oshodi said.

“In fact, the first defendant tried to buy his way out of the court. A lesson has to be thought to serve as a deterrent to others.

“The defendants are hereby sentenced to 10 years for count one without an option of fine, one year to count two with an option of N200,000 and 15 years to count three without an option of fine.

“The sentencing shall run concurrently from the day they had been arrested.”