Ekiti State Police have arraigned Ilejemeje LG Vice Chairman Grace Ogunleye and three others over an alleged self-kidnapping plot. The suspects have been remanded pending legal advice from the DPP
Ekiti LG Vice Chairman, Three Others Remanded Over Alleged Self-Kidnapping Scheme
Fresh controversy has erupted in Ekiti State after the Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Grace Ogunleye, and three other suspects were arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti over allegations of conspiracy and self-kidnapping in a case that has sparked outrage and intense public debate.
The defendants were brought before Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun following the conclusion of police investigations into an incident that was initially reported as a kidnapping, triggering widespread concern across the state and prompting a major security response.
According to the Ekiti State Police Command, the arraignment followed findings from an investigation launched after Ogunleye was declared missing on May 20, 2026. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, said the probe uncovered circumstances that led investigators to pursue criminal charges against the suspects.
During proceedings, the prosecutor, ASP Akinwale Oriyomi, informed the court that the case file had already been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice. He urged the court to remand the defendants pending the outcome of the legal review.
Ruling on the application, Chief Magistrate Adeosun ordered that Ogunleye and the three co-defendants be remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
The case stems from a dramatic incident that sent shockwaves through Ilejemeje Local Government Area and neighbouring communities after the vice chairman was reported kidnapped along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti Road. Her vehicle was allegedly found abandoned by the roadside while attempts to contact her proved unsuccessful, fuelling fears that she had been abducted by armed kidnappers.
The reported disappearance immediately drew the attention of security agencies, which launched a coordinated operation to secure her release. The development also heightened concerns about kidnapping and insecurity in parts of Ekiti State.
However, the case took a startling turn when police investigators allegedly uncovered evidence suggesting that the kidnapping report had been staged.
According to investigators, the alleged abduction was orchestrated as part of a plan to raise money to settle personal financial obligations and fulfil certain political commitments. The findings reportedly led to the arrest of Ogunleye and three other individuals believed to have played roles in the alleged scheme.
The development has generated strong reactions from residents, political stakeholders and observers, many of whom expressed concern over the implications of such allegations at a time when security agencies are battling genuine cases of kidnapping and violent crime across the country.
Reacting to the controversy, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Pius Dada, condemned the alleged act, describing it as embarrassing, unfortunate and unacceptable.
Dada warned that such actions, if proven, could damage public confidence in elected officials and undermine trust in security institutions that devote significant manpower and resources to emergency situations.
He maintained that public office holders must be held to the highest standards of accountability, stressing that no individual, regardless of political status or position, should be shielded from justice if found culpable.
As the suspects remain in custody, attention is now focused on the legal advice expected from the DPP and the next stage of court proceedings. The case has quickly become one of the most closely watched political controversies in Ekiti State, with legal analysts noting that its outcome could set an important precedent on public accountability and the consequences of allegedly making false security claims that divert law enforcement resources from genuine threats.
