My family paid N15.1 million to my kidnappers, monarch tells court

A Lagos monarch has told a court that his family paid N15.1 million to kidnappers who held him captive.
“My abductors demanded N500million ransom but my family paid N15.1 million to free me” the traditional ruler of Iba Town, Goriola Oseni, told a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere.
Mr. Oseni said this on Friday while giving evidence at the commencement of trial of the four men accused of kidnapping him.
The accused are: Duba Furejo, Ododowo Isaiah, Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh, who were first arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo on October 24.
They are standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, robbery, armed robbery, stealing and kidnapping preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.
The monarch’s kidnap in July drew widespread condemnation at the security situation in Lagos. The police and the state government sprung promptly into action to help secure Mr, Oseni’s release.
At the commencement of hearing, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, who led a team of lawyers for the state, obtained the leave of court to exclude the public from the trial.
In an oral application, Mr. Kazeem told the court that the accused were part of a criminal enterprise, therefore, it would be in the interest of justice and the safety of the witnesses for the case to be closed to the public.