By Admin
A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has struck out a kidnapping charge against four defendants, allegedly instituted by a radio broadcaster, Babatunde Bamigboye, popularly known as “Omo Edema,” following legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that there was no evidence to sustain the case.
Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun of the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District struck out the case on Friday, a decision that brought relief to the defendants and their families.
Counsel to the defendants, Dr Sunday Ochayi, welcomed the ruling, describing it as victory for justice and due process.
The charge was linked to the disappearance of Ayobami Adepoju, popularly known as Bobo, who reportedly went out with his friends to watch a masquerade in Ado-Ekiti on May 18, 2026, before he was declared missing.
The case was allegedly engineered Omo Edema, who hosts a programme on a private radio station along Ilawe Road, Ado-Ekiti.
Bamigboye was said to have accused Bobo’s friends of being responsible for his disappearance and alleged that they kidnapped him.
According to the defence, the broadcaster allegedly involved officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ekiti State, leading to the arrest and detention of the four persons.
The defendants were identified as Marvellous Ajibola, 17; Junior Lawal, 24; Temidayo Jimoh; and Sekemi Salami, 20.
The circumstances surrounding their arrest had raised concerns over the propriety of the investigation and the quality of evidence relied upon for the prosecution.
Speaking after the court proceedings, Ochayi commended the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice, particularly the DPP and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, for dispassionately reviewing the case file and issuing legal advice that led to the termination of proceedings.
He expressed gratitude to the state government for allowing the justice system to take its course.
Favour Salami, father of Sekemi Salami, thanked God and the state government for the outcome, stating that he never handed over his daughter to anyone. Other parents of the defendants also welcomed the court’s decision.
While the whereabouts of Bobo remains a matter of concern, the court’s decision has renewed public discourse on the need for thorough investigation before serious criminal allegations lead to arrest and prosecution.
The ruling also underscored the importance of evidence, due process and responsible public commentary on criminal allegations.
