Ile Ife Clash: Suspects to Be Arraigned on Thursday

By Fatai Akanji

The arraignment of six suspects in connection with the Ile-Ife communal clash at the Osun State High Court in Osogbo was stalled on Wednesday due to alleged procedural error from the prosecuting counsels and the court registry.

It will be recalled that the arraignment could not hold on Tuesday due to in proper briefing of the Judge billed to hear the matter.

The suspects are, Eluwole Ameen, Jimoh Bakiru,Pastor Taiwo Fakuwayo, Bamidele Elurisanmi, Daniel Olanrewaju,,and Oba Ademola Ademiluyi,.

The Defence counsel, Mr Murtala Agboola, while speaking with newsmen said that the police have not followed the needed process to try the suspects.

Agboola disclosed that, court was expected to come by way of motion from consent to prosecute the accused persons but the due process was not adhered to as only the suspects were served without the judge’s consent.

He added that consent was only given on Wednesday (today) with the suspects served which paved way for the eventual commencement of hearing the case.

The Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Simon Lough, also told reporters that the issue of court proceeding could only be determined by a judge and not a lawyer.

Mr Simon said, the court would communicate the date of re-arraignment to the counsels involved debunking insinuations that hearing was delayed due to the fact that the code to prosecute the accused persons was not contained in the suit.

Meanwhile, this reporter observed that there was tight security within the court premises.

CityMirrorNews also gathered exclusively that the arraignment would properly hold (tomorrow) Thursday, April 27, 2016.