An Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded two persons, Owoseni Adefolaran and Oluwatade Olaleye, for their alleged roles in meting out jungle justice on a woman they accused of stealing tubers of yam.
The two accused persons and others who are now at large reportedly brutalized the victim (names withheld), inflicted grievous bodily injury on her, stripped her naked, and circulated videos of her nakedness on various social media platforms.
The alleged offences were committed at about 6:00 am on September 5 at Aduramigba Community, Afao Road, Ado Ekiti, and the accused persons are standing trial on a three-count charge before the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Bankole Oluwasanmi.
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The three counts of conspiracy to commit felony, assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace slammed on the accused persons are contrary to and punishable under Sections 421, 186 and 181 of the Criminal Law, Volume 1, Laws of Ekiti State 2021, respectively.
Counsel to the accused persons, Mr. Adefolaju Ayobioloja, urged the court to admit his clients to bail, describing the first accused person as the security man in the community and the second accused person as a secretary.
The defence counsel argued that the offences were bailable, asking the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.
Opposing the bail application, state counsel, Mrs. Shirley Atane, noted that although the offences are bailable, the state has strong doubts that the accused persons would not jump bail.
She contended that judging by the circumstances surrounding the offences and the number of people involved, the grant of bail would not assist in getting justice given that other alleged offenders are still on the run.
Oluwasanmi in his ruling, upheld the prosecution’s submission and denied the accused persons bail.
The trial could not commence because the case file was yet to be received from the Police. The case was subsequently adjourned till September 19 for resumption of trial.
According to a statement by First Lady, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Odunayo Ogunmola, she has mobilized the Gender Unit of her office to work with the Office of the Attorney General to ensure that the victim gets justice.
