Chief Magisterate O. O. Olatunji of Igbosere Chief Magisterate Court, Lagos, has ordered the remand of two Beninioises, Ballo Mohammed and Sana Aseez, over alleged conspiracy, kidnapping, hostage taking, obtaining money by false pretence and visa racketeering.
Chief Magistrate Olatunji’s remand order was sequel to a motion Exparte marked M/603/2025, filed and moved by Barrister Morufu Ajani Animashaun, of the Legal/Prosecution department of Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
In urging the court to remand the two suspects who were arrested by the International Police (Interpol) led by Mr. Bode Ojajuni a Police Commissioner (CP), Barrister Animashaun informed the court that the motion is pursuant to Section 264(1), (2) (3), (4) & (6) & 267 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2021(As Amended); Sections 4 and 10 of the Police Act, 2020, and Sections 6 (6), 35 (1)(C), (5) and (7) (a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).
In the motion Exparte, Barrister Animashaun informed the court, the two suspects during their operation took into custody six Ivory Coast citizens, who were rescued by the Interpol and released to their embassy for onward repratration to their country.
The victims allegedly kidnapped by the two suspects were: Zela Alhassane (28 years); Zela Zalika (27 years); Kara Sita (27 years); Zela Ramotou (29 years); Banhoro Kadijah; and Disa Barakisa (23 years).
He also informed the court the the suspects by false pretence received a total sum of 11.8 million CFA), equivalent to N30, 411,945.42 million, from the family of the victims.
He further informed the court that the Exparte motion is supported with an affidavit deposed to by one inspector Oyebisi Oni, attached to Interpol Section.
Parts of the deposition in the affidavit read: “That the respondents/defendants were arrested in connection with the offences of Conspiracy, Kidnapping, Visa Racketeering, and Obtaining Money by False Pretence, wherein they are alleged to have obtained the said 11,800,000 CFA (N30,411,945.42) from the family of the victim; and the case was thereafter assigned to the Commissioner of Police, Interpol Section, FCID Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos for investigation.
That during the investigation, the complainant and the victims voluntarily made and signed their written statements narrating how the Respondents and others now at large deceitfully abducted them and obtained the total sum of 11,800,000 CFA (N30,411,945.42).
That upon receipt of the request for assistance from NCB Abidjan regarding thew citizens allegedly kidnapped in Nigeria, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Interpol Section, FCID Annex, Ikoyi, Lagos, dispatched a team of detectives to Olowoira Road, Isheri-Ikosi, Lagos State, where the Respondents were mutually traced; however, they had fled the location based on tracking intelligence.
“That the detectives continued the tracking operation from Olowoira, Lagos State, and on 9th December, 2025, the tracking device indicated a location m Delta State, where two of the abductors, namely Baddlos Muhammed (30 years, an Ivorian) and Sana Aseez (22 years, a Burkinabe), were traced to an abandoned hotel in Egbo-Hurie Community, Ughelli South, Delta State.
“That further intellgence-led enquiries by the detectives revealed the specific location where the victims were being held hostage, and they were successfully rescued unhurt and m good physical condition
“That during interrogation, the Respondents admitted to having collected the said sum of 11, 800, 000 CFA (N30,411,945.42) as ransom.
“That investigation further revealed that the complainants were victims of a Criminal scheme in which the Respondents lured foreign nationals into Nigeria under the false representation of procuring German Visas and Work Permits, fraudulently collected money from them, and subsequently detained them against their will.
“That the alleged kidnappers are foreign nationals from Ivory Coast (Abidjan), who used Nigeria as a base to perpetrate the alleged offences.
“That to conceal their criminal activities, the Respondents unlawfully imprisoned the victims, extorted ransom money from their families, and relocated them from Lagos State to Delta State.
“That the duplicate case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) with Reference No. CB:3960/X/ICPO/ADM/LS/CNU/VOL.2/224 dated 10th December, 2025.
“That a remand warrant 1s required to detain the Respondents at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Lagos State, for a period of thirty (30) days, pending the issuance of legal advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“That this application is brought to secure the remand of the Respondents at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Lagos State, pending the outcome of the legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.”
The presiding Chief Magistrate Olatunji, after listening to Barrister Animashaun’s submissions, granted the application and ordered that the two suspects be remanded the Ikoyi center of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), pending the Advice of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The magisterate thereafter adjourned the matter to January 9, 2026, for mention.
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