Edun-Abon Royal Rumbles: Court Remands Two Chiefs, One Other For Allegedly Setting Palace Ablaze

An Osogbo Magistrates’ Court, on Monday, ordered the remand of two traditional chiefs from Edun-Abon kingdom in Osun, for allegedly setting the palace of the Salu of Edun-Abon ablaze.

Chief Olatidoye Oyedokun (75) and Chief Odebode Elijah (60) were ordered to be kept behind bars alongside one Gbenga Olasunbo (55) for alledged criminal activities and setting a palace ablaze .

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Oladoye Joshua had told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 19, 2018 at Edun-Abon , Ife North local government area of Osun state.

Oladoye further explained that the suspects unlawfully set the palace of the Salu of Edun-Abon ablaze alongside with vehicles packed therein.

He listed the vehicles allegedly set ablaze by the three suspects and their accomplices at large as; one Laurel car, one Geely car, one Benze car, two Hondo motorcycles and two Bajaj motorcycles, all valued at N50 million.

The prosecutor said the suspects equally caused injury to the right leg of one Omooba Kehinde Oladepo and one Ayoola Abiola when they set the palace on fire and that they stripped naked one Mrs Temitope Adeola and Oluwatoyin Olawoye, among others and took their nude photographs/ video and sent the clips on social media such as Facebook and Whatsapp.

He said the offence committed by the accused persons was contrary to and punishable under Section 355, 338, 360, 353, 353, 360, 320, and 443 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.11, Laws of Osun of Osun state, Nigeria 2003.

The suspects however pleaded not guilty to the allegations leveled against them and their counsel , Mrs Bose Dada applied for their bail in the most liberal terms.

Dada assured and told the court that the suspects would not jump bail, stating that they were respected people in the society who have reliable sureties to stand for them.

The police prosecutor however opposed the bail applications on the grand that the matter is a case of conspiracy in which other accused persons are still at large.

Oladoye further said granting bail at this stage would aggravate the tension in the community and also send a wrong signal to the society .

Ruling on the matter, Magistrate R. A Olayemi held that though bail is the right of an accused, but in view of the fact that there was still tension in the community, granting bail to the accused would heighten the tension in the community and expose the accused persons to unwarranted attack.

She therefore, ruled that there bail application would be considered in the next date of adjournment.

She however ordered that the accused be remanded at Ilesa prison custody and adjourned the case till January 28, 2019.