Court remands 15 rioters in Ile Oluji

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.