Update on ondo fight

FIFTEEN suspects arrested over the
violent protest in Ile Oluji area of
Ondo state have been ordered to be
remanded in prison custody by an Akure
Chief Magistrate court.

The suspects were arraigned on 12
counts-charge at the Magistrates Court 2
and were charged with felony, burning of
the palace of the Jegun of Ile Oluji,
Oba Stephen Suulade Adedugbe and
attempted murder of the Divisional
Police Officer (DPO) of the town, Mr
Olawoye Ezekiel and another policeman,
Constable Olaofe Bamidele.
They include; Akinfesoye Akinfolarin,
Sunday Agbeko, Julius Akinbayode,
Christian Nnadi, Olatide Daniel, Akinro
Adefulire, Olagunju Ismaila, Adebusoye
Felix, Dare Owa, Olatunji Oyetunji
Bisiliu and Emmanuel Nweke.
Others are; Alhaji Taiwo Akinmadeyemi,
Jayeoba Akinwale, Akinfade Stephen and
Awodeyi Lateef.
The accused and others now at large
conspired together to commit felony to
wit arson, causing grievous harm,
malicious damage and rioting by setting
ablaze an office building belonging to
the Jegun of Ile Oluji, Oba Stephen
Suulade Adedugbe and thereby committed
an offence punishable under section
443(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 37,
Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria,
2006.
The suspects were also accused of
setting ablaze a church building behind
the Jegun’s office palace, malicious
damage of the doors and windows of the
palace of the Jegun and willfully
damaging the windscreen and side mirror
of Police Armoured Personnel Carrier
with registration number NPF 6006 C, the
extent of which could not be ascertained
at the moment and thereby committed an
offence punishable under 458 of the
Criminal Code.
Other offences include the malicious
damage of a Ford Bus (unregistered)
Toyota Hiace bus with reg No Ondo AE 366
LEL, Toyota Hiace bus with reg No Lagos
AX 12 AKD, Toyota Coaster bus with reg
No Lagos AP 48 FST, Toyota Hiace bus
with reg No Benue XA 261 NAK, Toyota
Corolla reg No LAGOS JP 129 EKY, Toyota
Previa bus reg No LAGOS MU 519 KJA,
NISSAN jeep reg No JEGUN OF ILE OLUJI,
Peugeot 404 reg No JEGUN OF ILE OLUJI
and Toyota Avalon (unregistered).
The offenses also include the willful
damage of MAZDA Pick-up van with reg No
PF 4613 OD, FORD Pick-up van with reg No
PF 4639 OD and attacked Mr Hamzat Ameyi,
an Assistant Commissioner of Police in
charge of the Ondo Area Command with
heavy stones which caused him grievous
harm, thereby committed an offence
punishable under Section 355 of the
Criminal Code.
They were equally accused of taking part
in rioting, attempted murder of the DPO,
Mr Olawoye Ezekiel and one police
constable, Olaofe Bamidele and thereby
committed an offence under Section 320
(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol 1,
Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
When the charges were read to the
accused by the court clerk, they pleaded
not guilty to all the counts.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Zakari
Ibrahim told the magistrate that he has
10 witnesses that would help him in the
prosecution of the case.
The Magistrate therefore ordered the
suspects to be remanded at the prison
custody and adjourned the matter till
June 7 this year for hearing.