Two men and one woman were on Friday brought before an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State over alleged kidnap and robbery.
The accused: Ronti Echiye, 47; Rafiu Akeem, 45; and Animashaun Segun, 39, faced a seven count charge.
The prosecutor, Kemi Adeniran, said that the three accused committed the offences at 2, Alleluya Street, Temu, Poka, Epe in Lagos State.
They kidnapped one Luke Boniface on June 22 at his residence in Ikorodu and robbed him of his N9,000 cash, while taking him away.
Adeniran said they kidnapped the complainant, took him to an unknown destination, hanged him, battered him and gave him a phone to call his family for ransom.
She said: “When the phone was given to the complainant to call his family, he spoke in a different language, which the alleged kidnappers did not understand.
“In his calls, he described where he was to his wife in his native language, so his wife alerted the police and the place was bombarded.
“We found tear gas, handcuffs and other dangerous weapons in the apartment he was kept.”
Adeniran said the offence contravened Sections 409, 271, 173, 285, 171, 330, 78 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the sections stipulate three, one, three, three, three, two, and three years jail terms, respectively, for convicted offenders.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the alleged offences.
The Magistrate, Makanjuola Oshodi, granted them bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties that must be gainfully employed and evidence of tax payment must be shown and must be a land owner within the magisterial district.
Oshodi adjourned the case till July 27, for trial.