Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, 5 others sent to prison over alleged murder

The Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, was on Wednesday remanded by an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for alleged murder.

He was arraigned in connection with violence which erupted shortly after he inaugurated his hotel located in Gbemisola area of the town on Friday.

Suspected thugs vandalized the hotel over a statement made by Obasoyin which they believed was against the interest of a governorship aspirant who hails from the town.

Obasoyin’s loyalists allegedly launched a reprisal attack on those identified as the perpetrators on Monday which claimed the life of one Kolade Adefemi.

Others charged with the Olukere on an order to remand filed by the Commissioner of Police were Ajewole Sunday, Adetowoju Bode, Kayode Michael, Olowolafe Tola and Aluko Taiwo.

According to the remand order form marked MAD/181fk/17, the accused persons were charged with conspiracy, attempted murder of Ayodele Osanyinbola and murder of Kolade Adefemi.

The offences are punishable under Section (1) and 319 (1) of Criminal Code Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012 within Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District on or about the 25th December, 2017.

Defence counsel, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, urged the court to grant bail to the accused persons.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Okunade, opposed the bail application and pleaded that the court granted the remand order request.

Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye refused the bail application and ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison pending the issuance of legal advice on the case.

Adegboye adjourned the case till 8th of January, 2018.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Morakinyo Ogele has condemned the arrest, detention, arraignment and remand of Olukere and accused the Police of bias and doing the bidding of the state government.

Ogele, an Ikere indigene, said Obasoyin was victimised for declaring during the commissioning of his hotel that “Ikere has no candidate yet for the 2018 governorship election.”

He said: “The offence of the Olukere was that he declared that Ikere has no candidate yet for next year’s governorship election while declaring his hotel open and the role of the Commissioner of Police in this matter does not reflect unbiased policing.

“I see no reason why the hotel should be destroyed and at the same time charging the Oba to court. Those who attacked his hotel aimed for his life and the role of the government is condemnable.

“There is a criminal alliance between the Police, the government and an indigene of Ikere in the whole episode.”