Court Remands Three OPC Members Over Alleged Assault In Osun

By Nafisat Arogundade, Osogbo

A Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun state capital, on Monday ordered the remand of three suspected members of Oodua People Congress (OPC) over alleged assault.

The defendants, Bakare Banke (35), Oluwafemi Olaoye (40), Adeyinka Simiyu and one other who is currently at large were said to have commited the offence on March 12, 2020 at about 5:00pm till 6:00am at Ori Eru area, Oke Baale Osogbo

Police prosecutor, Olayiwola Rasak had told the court that the defendants did tie one Adeniyi Nurudeen with rope and beat him up without any justification for their action, which resulted to an open injury he sustained in his body

He further alleged that the defendants did maliciously damaged jean trouser and shirt valued #6,000 property of one Adeniyi Nurudeen.

The offence committed according to the Prosecutor was contrary to and punishable under Section 516, 355,451 Cap 34 Vol ll Law of Osun state, 2002

The defendants pleaded not guilty to three counts charges of conspiracy, assault and malicious damage leveled against them by the police.

It was gathered that the complainant went to drink palm wine on that fateful day, at a shop where a phone was missing and he was accused of stealing the missing phone. Due to this, the owner of the shop went to report to some OPC members.

They took him to their office and allegedly brutalized him by using cutlass to inflict serious injuries on him and also tore his clothes.

After causing injuries on his body, it was learnt that they also sprayed pepper on the injuries surface and he was tied down during the process for a whole day.

Defence Counsel, Okobe Nagite prayed for the bail of the defendants in most liberal term

The prosecutor opposed the oral bail application on the ground that there are still others at large.

He further explained that the police are still intensifying efforts to arrest them.

He argued that granting them bail will jeopardise the efforts of the police in apprehending others at large.

The Prosecutor decried a situation where a group of people calling themselves OPC members would have effrontery to torture a suspect for a whole day.

He further argued that if the court grant them bail, they would definitely commit another similar offence, saying this should serve as a deterrent to others.

Ruling on the matter, Magistrate Olatundun Oloyade, ordered that the suspects be kept in custody at Ilesa Correctional centre.

She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till April 13, 2020 for formal bail application