Court Remands 21 Over Murder In Akure

An Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered the remand in police custody of 21 persons charged with conspiracy, attempted murder and murder.

The accused persons are Alo Tolulope, 23; Adebayo Oluwatobi, 18; Adeniji Adenipekun, 23; Gbenga Akintola, 22; Olasehinde Tope,28; Umakpor Godspower, 32; Adewunmi Aremo,18; Abey Seun,24; Makanjuola Tolulope,30; Wasiu Raimi,32; Dele Aja-Ogun,28 and Ibukun Oluwadare,30.

Others accused persons are Gbenga Ajayi, 22; Ayodimeji Adelakun, 42; Fidelise Emeka,23; Isreal Igwe,18; Ogunmodede Micheal,18; Emmanuel Sylvester, 35; Oluwatosin Gbenga, 28; Ayomide Omotayo,18; and Papoola Emiola,18.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Victoria Bob-Manuel, ordered that the suspects be remanded in police custody pending the conclusion of investigations.

“The police need to do its investigation thoroughly before the next adjournment.

“The police are hereby given 14 days to conclude investigations and the accused persons should be remanded in their custody until July 25,” she said.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Martins Olowofeso, told the court that Tolulope, Oluwatobi, Adenipekun, Akintola, Tope and Godspower conspired and stabbed one Adebayo Samuel with broken bottle all over his body, thereby sustaining serious injuries.

Olowofeso also alleged that the suspects unlawfully shot one Adetunji Idowu to death.

He further said that Aremo, Seun, Tolulope, Raimi, Aja-Ogun and Pleasure conspired and hacked one Idowu Adetoro, a.k.a Small, to death with a machete.

According to the prosecutor, Ajayi, Adelakun, Emeka, Igwe, Micheal, Sylvester, Gbenga, Omotayo and Emiola also hacked one Oluwafemi Yinka to death with a machete.

He said that the Tolulope and his group committed the offences on June 26, 2017, at about 5:30 p.m. at Arakale Road.

The prosecutor said Aremo and his group committed the offences on June 24, at about 9:10 p.m. at Obanla, while Ajayi and his group committed the offences sometimes in the month of June, 2017 at Idi-Iroko in Akure metropolis.

According to the prosecutor, the offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 516, 320 and 316 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

The pleas of the accused persons were not taken and the case was adjourned till July 25 for mention.