A chief magistrate’s court in Ado-Ekiti has remanded the vice chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Grace Ogunleye, at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre over allegations of conspiracy and self-kidnapping.

According to a report by TheCable, Ogunleye was arraigned alongside three other suspects on Wednesday following a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding her reported abduction.

The Ekiti State Police Command spokesman, Sunday Abutu, said the suspects were charged after what he described as a thorough investigation into the matter.

During the court proceedings, prosecutor Akinwale Oriyimi informed the court that the case file had been forwarded to the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice. He subsequently requested that the defendants be remanded pending further action.

Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun granted the request and ordered that Ogunleye and the other defendants be remanded at the correctional facility.

The case stems from an incident on May 20 when Ogunleye was declared missing after her vehicle was reportedly found abandoned along the Ipere-Iludun Ekiti road.

Initial reports suggested that gunmen had abducted her shortly after she left the local government secretariat. She was later found unharmed following a joint security operation.

However, police investigators later alleged that the kidnapping was staged as part of a plan to generate funds to offset personal financial obligations and unresolved political commitments.

Reacting to the development, Ilejemeje Local Government chairman Pius Dada condemned the alleged act, describing it as embarrassing and unacceptable.

Dada warned that such incidents could undermine public confidence in both government officials and security agencies. He also stressed that any public office holder found culpable would face the full weight of the law.

The matter is expected to proceed after legal advice is received from the Director of Public Prosecutions.