A Kwara State Magistrate’s Court in Ilorin has ordered the remand of a 49-year-old driver, Suleiman Alao, over the kidnap of an Islamic cleric, Alfa Sofiu Amolegbe, and his son, Ali.

Alao was accused of playing a role in the kidnap of the father and son on November 17, 2022, at their house in Oko-Olowo on the outskirts of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The police, on Friday, arraigned Alao on charges bordering on conspiracy and kidnapping.

According to police report, some armed robbers had invaded the cleric’s home in the dead of the night.

They demanded the cleric’s wife jewellery, and in a bid to instill fear in the household, one of the hoodlums slapped the cleric’s brother, Fasasi, who retaliated with a slap.

The robbers were said to have become furious and shot Fasasi. They then forcefully kidnapped the cleric and son and demanded N100,000 ransom to free them.

The police said the defendant, Alao, was arrested in the vicinity of the cleric’s house and he had no concrete explanation to offer when interrogated.

Investigation conducted by the anti-kidnapping squad revealed that the defendant criminally conspired with others at large by aiding or abetting the victim’s kidnap,” the police alleged.

Following Alao’s arraignment, the police prosecutor, Abdullahi Sanni, urged the court to remand him in prison.

In a short ruling, the trial magistrate, Mrs Aminat Shittu, ordered the remand of the accused person in the correctional facility, Ilorin while the matter was adjourned till December 15, 2022 for mention.