KEY POINTS
- Osun monarch and other co-defendants fail to meet N5 million bail conditions.
- The defendants have been charged with 29 offences among them, arson, robbery and destruction of property.
- The case will come up for further hearing on October 16 after the court has adjourned the trial.
Five of the accused, including Oba Muideen Azeez, the Elegbedi of Egbedi, Osun State, were later transferred to Ile-Ife custodial centre following their refusal to meet the bail granted by Osun State High Court. The defendants are accused of arson, robbery and malicious damage to property on a farm in Iloba town, and were first brought to court on June 27, 2024.
The trial, which commenced afresh in the court, sitting in Ede, has Oba Muideen Azeez Soremekun and four others Akibu Abioye, Yisa Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran and Sarafadeen Abioye standing trial on a 29 count charge. Some of the charges being leveled against them are; burning houses, burning of farmland, possessing fire arms, and theft.
Details of the charges
The defendants have been charged with the said offences on. The alleged offences were committed on the September? 3, 2019 when the defendants was alleged to have robbed Wasilatu Akinola and other women of palm oil, domestic animals, and other valuables worth N10 million. The defendants who were also accused of being armed with firearms were also charged for burning the palace of Oba Lasisi Gbadamosi, the Oloba of Iloba and other buildings in the town.
The trial is before His Lordship Justice Kudirat Akano who has admitted the defendants to bail at the sum of N5,000,000 each with two sureties. One of the sureties must own an immovable property within the jurisdiction of the court and be a level 16 civil servant.The other surety must be an acknowledged part two monarch. However, the defendants were unable to meet the bails hence were remanded as prayed by the prosecution.
Why the witness testimony and what’s next?
According to Punch, a prosecution witness, Mustafa Waheed, stated that he was assaulted by the Oba of Odeomu Muideen Azeez for trying to have the monarch apprehended by the police for alleged destruction of his farm. Justice Akano then adjourned the case to October 16, 2024 for the purpose of hearing the matter. The state was represented by prosecution counsel, Mr. Abiodun Badiora and the accused was defended by the defense counsel Mr. Bukola Atobatele.
