Ondo: 39-Year-Old Self-Confessed Fraudster Remanded In Prison Over Child Missing

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

A 39-year-old self-confessed scammer and aerial fraudster, Chibuzor Elike was yesterday remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Service by an Akure Chief Magistrate Court, Ondo state.

Elike was remanded over his claimed that the missing one-year-old boy, Gold Kolawole who went missing at the Sotitobire Miracle Centre on November 10, 2019 was in his custody.

The accused person who appeared before Magistrate Mayomi Olanipekun on three count-charge of felony, threat and demanding with menace was said to have committed the offence on December 14th, 2019 at about 11:30pm off Oda road in the Akure magisterial district.

But Elike was arrested last week in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by detectives of the Ondo State Police Command following a text message he sent to
the wife of Sotitobire’s Founder, Bisola Alfa Babatunde where he demanded N800,000 ransom for the release of Gold Kolawole.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Adeoye Adesegun told the court that the accused person has committed punishable offences under sections, 509, 406 and 407, of the criminal code cap 37 vol 1 laws of Ondo State 2006.

In view of this, Inspector Adesegun, told the court that he has five witnesses, but only two were in court, and therefore prayed the court to remand the accused person for enable him to study the case file properly.

Counsel to the accused person, Mr. Isaac Adubazi, did not oppose to the adjournment sought by the prosecutor but prayed the court to admit his client to bail in most liberal term saying that the accused person was ready to provide a credible and reliable surety if granted bail.

In his ruling, the Presiding Magistrate, Mayomi Olanipekun, ordered the accused person to be remanded at Olokuta correctional service, pending a legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.

Magistrate Olanipekun, however adjourned the case till February 20, 2020.