Updated: Yoruba Nation Agitators Remanded In Prison

Oyo State Police Command on Wednesday arraigned twenty-nine arrested members of the Democratic Yoruba Nation Agitation Group before the Iyaganku Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ibadan on a seven- count charge bordering on “treasonable felony, unlawful society, illegal possession of firearms, going armed, and conduct likely to cause the breach of the peace”.

According to the Investigation Police Officer, (IPO) Bakare Rasaq in a charge marked MI/520C, 2024, signed by the Officer in Charge, Legal, CSP Fawole Funke, the offences of the defendants are contrary to and punishable under Section 516, of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

The defendants arraigned before Mrs O.O. Ogunkanmi are: Adeyemo Peter (75), Adeyemo Joseph (29), Amos Ogundeji (45), Ayanwale Rofiat (F 25), Olalere Mathew (54), Malomo Ismaila (65), Fatoki Anthony (34), Muritala Abefe (40), Adepoju Ismaila (45), Tola Olufemi (60), Dosunmu Toyin (F 65), Fatunmbi Wasiu (30), Isaac Friday (27), Ayanwale Saburi (28), and Elegbede Adeola (27).

Others paraded include: Ademola Adeniyi (29), Alabi Ogundeji (55), Ojo Olufemi (52), Ajani Ezekiel (42), Adejumo Lateef (60), Ayoola David (40), Adesokan Hammed (38), Salaudeen Wahab (56), Abiona Esther (F 78), Omoyajowo Funsho (64), Orifola Alabi (44), Yusuff Adebayo (67), Taiwo Titilayo (F 58), Kayode Fakeye (45),

According to the prosecution, the defendants along with others still at large on Saturday, 13th April, 2024 at at about 8:30 AM at the Agodi Government Secretariat, Ibadan, “did conspire with one another to commit felony to wit: treasonable felony, unlawful society, going armed and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

“On the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did unlawfully form intention and manifest the intention to forcefully remove the democratically- elected Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde during his term of office by invading the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan with arms and declaring the birth of Yoruba Nation, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 41(b) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

“That the defendants and others at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did unlawfully belong to a group of people declaring the birth of Yoruba Nation which is an unlawful society and thereby committed g an offence contrary to Section 62 and punishable under Section 64 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

“That the defendants and others at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did unlawfully go armed in the public with guns, cutlasses, charms and knives without lawful occasion in such a manner as to cause terror to Executive Governor of Oyo State Engr. Seyi Makinde and the public and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 80 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

“That the defendants and others at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by going armed in the public and declaring the Yoruba Nation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo of Nigeria, 2000.

“That the defendants and others at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did conspire with one another to commit felony to wit: unlawful possession of firearms amd ammunition and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“That the defendants and others at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did unlawfully have in your possession five English Pump Action guns, three locally made barrel gun, 405 rounds of live cartridges and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.

Pleas of the defendants were not taken as they were arraigned on holden charge, the court having no jurisdiction to try them for the offences. The Magistrate, in the ruling, therefore ordered that they be remanded in the Correctional Centre till August 1, 2024 when their matter would come up for mention.