Grace Ogunleye, Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area in Ekiti State, has been remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre after being arraigned on charges of conspiracy and alleged self-kidnapping.
Ogunleye appeared before a Chief Magistrate's Court in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday alongside three other defendants.
According to the Ekiti State Police Command, the suspects were charged following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ogunleye's reported abduction.
The prosecutor, Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the case file had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice. He subsequently requested that the defendants be remanded pending further action.
Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun granted the application and ordered that the accused persons be remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre until the next stage of the proceedings.
Ogunleye was reported missing on May 20 after her vehicle was found abandoned along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti Road. Initial reports indicated that she had been abducted by gunmen shortly after leaving the local government secretariat.
She was later found unharmed during a joint security operation.
However, police investigations later alleged that the kidnapping was staged as part of a plan to raise funds to settle personal financial obligations and outstanding political commitments.
Reacting to the development, Ilejemeje Local Government Chairman Pius Dada described the allegation as disturbing and damaging to public confidence in both elected officials and security institutions.
Dada said anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law, regardless of their position in government.
The matter is expected to proceed after the DPP issues legal advice on the case.
