A Magistrate’s court sitting in Ilorin has adjourned till June 3, for legal advice from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the trial of 13 people arrested in connection with the February 1 killing of the Olukoro of Koro, Oba Segun Aremu.
The monarch was abducted and killed in Koro community, Ekiti Local Council of Kwara State.
A traditional chief from Ekiti, Oyebanji Olowofela, and 12 others are facing charges of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and kidnapping at the court.
Other defendants are: Salihu Muritala, Godwin Jacob, Olowofela Oyebanji, Adefalolu Ayodele, Tewasie Francis, Babatunde Samuel, Godwin Joseph, Issa Mumee, Miracle Solomon, Abraham Kehinde, Muhammed Bello, Muhammed Muhammed, Ahmadu Umaru and Muhammed Dankai.
At their last appearance, the prosecutor, Mr Abdulahi Sanni, urged the court to adjourn the case for further mention as he was “still awaiting legal advice from the DPP”.
Sanni absolved the DPP of blame for the delay, explaining that officials have loads of work to do.
Magistrate G. M. Kamson asked the DPP to expedite action with respect to the provision of ‘legal advice’, considering the seriousness of the case, and in the interest of the defendants still in detention.
She adjourned till June 3, 2024.
MEANWHILE, a human rights and youth development group, the Conscientious Youths and Empowerment Foundation (CYEF), has urged the Kwara State government to conduct further enquiries into the killing of the monarch.
In a statement released by the coordinator, George Oyeyiola, the group called for further investigation into the matter, so that those who were wrongly accused would be set free and duly compensated.
It asked the state to “look into reports of torture, unlawful detention, extraction of statements under duress and other alleged violations of human rights”.
CYEF said the call became essential in view of complaints by some human rights activists as well as published articles online, detailing the manner of arrest and detention of some people linked with the crime.
According to the group, this will ensure that innocent citizens do not suffer as victims of a miscarriage of justice.
It said: “CYEF has been following the case of one Chief Oyebanji Olowofela and 12 others alleged to have taken part in kidnapping and killings in the southern axis of Kwara and part of Ekiti State.
“While we appreciate our security agencies for beefing up security in these crime prone areas, we are also glad that this has resulted in the arrest of some suspects who should be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
“We are, however, concerned about the arrest and planned prosecution of a traditional chief from Ekiti, Oyebanji Olowofela, said to have been identified by a domestic staff as leader of a kidnap syndicate.
“The same staff, Godwin Jacob, had since recanted, exonerating the traditional chief, confessing that he was forced to make the false claim by the military men who tortured and threatened to kill him.
“The 80-year-old man was also reported to have been tortured after his arrest and is still receiving treatment in the hospital after the ordeal triggered underlying ailments.”
The group added: “While we urge our security operatives to continue the good work of enhancing the security architecture of the state, we implore them to do so with decorum and respect for human rights.
“We also implore Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to order the Ministry of Justice under the Attorney General of the state, to conduct a thorough investigation into this case, to ensure that justice is done and innocent citizens are exonerated.
“We hope that the commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Kwara State, Ibrahim Sulyman, will live up to his billing by doing the needful.”
