Pastor Arraigned For Faking Own Kidnap

A middle-aged pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church, Samuel Adegbohungbe, was arraigned on Thursday before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly setting up his own kidnap.

He is accused of planning the kidnap to obtain money from members of his church.
Adegbohungbe, 32, was apprehended alongside his girlfriend, Modupe Afolayan, at their hideout at the time of the arranged kidnapping.

Police Prosecutor Femi Fajoju told the court that the pastor had on November 30 “faked his kidnapping”.

He said the accused had alerted one of his sisters, Mrs Ruth Adegbohungbe, and one of the pastors of the church, Mr Ajibola Damilola, about plans by some unknown persons to kidnap him.
Fajoju said the accused claimed the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N200,000 before he could be released.

“The accused persons gave a Zenith Bank account number where the money should be paid into and after it was paid, he was notified about it.

“Unknown to him, the police and the bank officials had been alerted about the situation at hand.
“When he got to the bank to make a withdrawal from the bank account, he was apprehended by the police officers who were on guard,” the prosecutor said.

He said the offence was punishable under Section 192 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 30, Volume 2, Laws of Ondo State as applicable to Ekiti.

The pastor pleaded guilty to the charge while the lady pleaded not guilty, claiming she was ignorant of the arranged kidnap.

The accused persons were not represented by any counsel.

In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mr R.A. Adegboye, ordered that they be remanded in Ado-Ekiti prisons until Jan. 19 when the case is billed for mention.