Ten suspects, including the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo were today arraigned before an Igbokoda magistrate court over their alleged involvement in the death of Prince Lebi Itiola.
The suspects were brought to court on four count charge, to include murder, conspiracy and attempted murder.
Police prosecutor, Mr. Stanley Nwodo (DSP) from the Force Headquarters, Abuja in the charge sheet, said Oba Afolabi and other suspects, on March 13, 2013 at Ilaje High School, Igbokoda did commit felony to wit; murdered Prince Omolebi Titiola, an offence he said was punishable under section 324 of the Criminal Code, CAP 37 Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
The suspects, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, male, 49, Tayo Lebile, male, Nana Iroayo 27, Deji Enikanlogbo, male, 26; Taiwo Medioye, male; Lekinyo Feyesara, male; Clement Orieta, male, 70; Omorilonji Toyin, male 30; Adeniyi Gorroth, male, 27; Olatunji Akinlaja, male, were brought to court in a white Toyota Hiace Bus with registration number; Kano FGG 440 AK at about 9.45am amid tight security
Oba Odidiomo, dressed in a brown kampala with green cap to match was docked along other suspects for several hours before Magistrate Femi Agunloye who later ordered that the Monarch be given a chair as a mark of honour, following the plea by his counsel
Police prosecutor, Mr. Nwodo in the charge number MKD/70/2013 said the Monarch and the suspects also attempted to murder one Obiadi Itunu by hitting him on his head with a spear, an offence punishable under section 230 of the Criminal Code CAP 37 Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State 2006.
Magistrate Agunloye however refused to take the plea of the accused counsel on the ground that the court had no jurisdiction over capital offence as contained in count 2 of the charge sheet.
The Police prosecutor however prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody pending the completion of investigations by the police, but Magistrate Agunloye despite his earlier claim that the magistrate court had no jurisdiction over the matter, granted the accused bail, following an oral application by their counsel.
The magistrate however ruled that Oba Afolabi Odidiomo and other accused persons should produce a civil servant of grade level 10 with landed property within the jurisdiction and two prominent traditional rulers as sureties.
He later adjourned the case till Friday 15 November, 2013
Oba Odidiomo who looked frayed, was brought from Abuja on Tuesday evening with other suspects and were detained at Igbokoda Police station before their arraignment in court on Wednesday.
The parents of the deceased, Mr. and Mrs. Taiwo Itiola were also seen in court, crying and wailing, asking for justice over the death of their son.
Meanwhile, notable lawyers in the state have condemned the ruling by magistrate Agunloye for granting the accused persons bail. They said his action compromised judicial ethics and Nigerian status.
An Akure based legal practitioner and Human Right Activities, Mr. Bolarinwa Levi said it was against the Nigerian law and judicial ethics for the magistrate to have granted the accused bail, knowing very well that he lacked constitutional and statutory powers to do so.
He said “The ruling was a judicial aberration, a travesty of justice; it was a caricature of the entire judiciary and impunity to the state criminal law”.
Mr. Bolarinwa however called on the Ondo State Judicial Service Commission to investigate the matter and sanction the magistrate accordingly.
Comments