An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ogbomoso on Wednesday, remanded Oba Solomon Akinola, the Oloko of Oko, in Surulere Local Government Area of the state, and 14 others at Abolongo Correctional Centre for alleged continuous violent attacks, attempted murder, and land grabbing.
The 14 others that were remanded alongside the monarch include Chief Sunday Aderinto, Chief Jimoh Asimiyu, Timothy Aderinto, Matthew Akintaro, Rafiu Ganiu, Adejare Adeleru, Samson Ogunmola, Zachiaus Adeleru, Kamorudeen Ajibade, Raji Rasaq, Mutiu Arowosaye, Oyeyemi Oyelekan, Olusegun Oyelekan and Sheriff Adio.
However, Justice K.A. Adedokun remanded the defendants during the resumed hearing of charges against them after the state counsel, Mr I.O. Abdulazeez, informed the court that the complainant, Dr Isaac Abiodun, had been attacked again by the defendants at Aagba village.
Adedokun frowned at the latest violent attack on the complainant and held that the inability of Oba Akinola to maintain peace was clearly against the warning he gave when the case first came up on November 16, 2023.
The judge subsequently remanded the defendants and adjourned till November 27, 2023, for hearing of their bail applications.
Recall that the court had on November 16 issued a warning to Oba Akinola, directing him to be civil and caution his loyalists not to misbehave in any manner in respect of the matter.
The judge had said that he would have remanded Oba Akinola and other defendants in custody at the time, if not that he strongly respects the traditional institution. He had threatened to deal with them if there was any report of misbehaviour from them.
The defendants were arraigned on a 29-count charge bordering on alleged attempted murder, conspiracy, rough handling, robbery, stealing, damage of property, forceful entry, and assault.
Abdulazeez had told the court that the incident occurred on May 7, 10, 27, and September 3, 2021, respectively at Aagba, in Surulere Local Government area of Oyo State.
According to the state counsel, the indigenes of Aagba, including Abiodun had petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the defendants had been doing everything possible to kill him and convert his land situated in Aagba village to theirs.
He stated that Abiodun had previously secured court judgment as the true owner of the land.
The prosecutor stated that the offences contravened sections 516, 355, 320, 332, 390 (3), 7 (4), 7(c) 451 of the Criminal Codes Cap 38 vol. ii 38 Law of Oyo State 2000.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the defendants’ counsel, Mr M.O. Folounsho applied for their bail.
