Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Mrs. Grace Ogunleye, has been remanded at the Ado‑Ekiti Correctional Centre following her arraignment on charges bordering on conspiracy and self‑kidnapping. Ogunleye was arraigned on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, alongside three other suspects before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado‑Ekiti, the state capital. Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ordered her remand pending the duplication of the case file and its transfer to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice. The prosecution, led by ASP Akinwale Oriyomi, informed the court that the case file had already been forwarded to the DPP and requested the remand of the accused.
The case dates back to 20 May 2026, when Ogunleye was reported kidnapped along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti road. Her official vehicle was found abandoned by the roadside, and her phone was unreachable, sparking a large‑scale search operation involving police officers, military personnel and local security operatives. Initial reports suggested she had been abducted by gunmen shortly after leaving the council secretariat, and local government officials publicly expressed concern. She was eventually found and rescued unharmed the following day, 21 May 2026.
However, police investigations subsequently alleged that the abduction was staged. According to investigators, the plot was designed to generate funds to settle personal financial obligations and certain political commitments. The Ekiti State Police Command spokesperson, SP Sunday Abutu, confirmed that the suspects were arraigned after a thorough investigation into the allegations. Ogunleye and her three accomplices have not yet entered a plea; the court’s decision to remand them pending the DPP’s legal advice effectively means the case will only proceed to full trial after the prosecution receives the DPP’s formal opinion.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Pius Dada, condemned the alleged act, describing it as “embarrassing and unacceptable”. He stressed that no public office holder would be shielded from justice if found culpable, and warned that incidents of false abduction claims could undermine public trust in government institutions and security agencies, especially at a time when the country is grappling with genuine cases of kidnapping. The case has been adjourned pending further directives from the DPP.
Ogunleye has not yet publicly responded to the charges. The matter now rests with the DPP, whose legal advice will determine the next steps in the prosecution.
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