The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), yesterday, arraigned 45-year-old Ifagbenga Shofoluwe and 26-year-old Yahaya Shofoluwe before the Lagos State Magistrate’s Court in Oyingbo, Ebute-Metta, for kidnapping and theft.
They were arraigned on two-count charge bordering on kidnapping and stealing, which the prosecution stated were punishable under section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
Count one of the charges read: “That you and others still at large, at Topo Idale, Badagry, Lagos, conspired to commit felony, namely kidnapping of Jamiu Ishola and stealing, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
Count two read: “That you knowingly and unlawfully invited Jamiu Ishola to fix your iron gate, in which the victim could not be found dead or alive, except his unregistered Hague Motorcycle, one Android phone, and a cross handbag containing a clipper, for which you cannot give an account of his whereabouts, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 271 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
The suspects pleaded not guilty and were remanded in Ikoyi correctional facility by Magistrate O. M. Ajayi, who adjourned the case to August 22, 2025, for mention.
Meanwhile, friends, family members and the Nigerian Welders Association (NWA), yesterday, protested against the disappearance of Ishola at the court.
The protesters said that Ishola left his office in Mowo to work 35 days ago but never returned. His friend, Kazeem Adewale, said he received a call at about 10:00 p.m. on June 16, 2025, that Ishola’s phone was switched off. The next day, June 17, 2025, a search for him was launched and they visited the Badagry General Hospital, Police Station and other places.
He said that when their efforts did not yield results, they engaged a phone tracker and found his phone tracked to an uncompleted building in Idale, Badagry, adding: “They found his motorcycle on the premises and further search led to the discovery of his phone, keys, tape rule, and bag.
“The matter was taken to Morogbo Police Station, Agbara, before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos State.
“The owner of the building is said to be in Canada but his elder brother, Ifagbenga, who was apprehended, was supervising the house. We met a security guard named Hassan who told us that Ifagbenga called Jamiu and they both left the place but Ifagbenga returned without Jamiu.
“We have been asking questions and looking for Jamiu since June 16. We want justice for Jamiu. We want him dead or alive.” Also, the General Secretary of NWA, Lagos State chapter, Feyiropo Famoroti, said: “The Nigerian Welder Association wants justice for Jamiu. We are in the dark over the matter and we want this to be unraveled.
“We were told he might have been killed but we have not seen his body.”
