An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court  on Friday  remanded a 37-year-old businessman, Josiah Ehuchire, charged with kidnapping a five-year-old boy.

The Magistrate, Mrs O.A Dirisu, who did not take Ehuchire’s plea, ordered that he should be remanded in Kirikri Correctional Centre.

Dirisu, then ordered the police to send the case file to the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

She adjourned the case until Jan. 25, 2022 for DPP’s advice.

The defendant, who resides at Shasha area of Lagos, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and kidnapping.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Mojirade Edeme, told the court that the defendant committed the offences with one other person still at large on Oct. 30 at Iyana Shasha, Lagos.

Edeme said the defendant unlawfully captured and detained Master Chidalu Enwerem, with intent to deprive him his parental care.

She said the defendant demanded and collected N520,000 as ransom for the boy’s release.

“He stole the boy from his mother’s shop under the pretext of buying goods.

“The case was reported and the defendant was traced and arrested,” the prosecutor said.

Edeme said the offences contravened Sections 271, 277 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 271 prescribes 21 years’ imprisonment for child kidnapping, while Section 411 stipulates two years for conspiracy. (NAN)