REBECCA AJANI
A Chief Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Wednesday, ordered the remand of three members of the Oodua People’s Congress in the Abolongo Correctional Centre.
The three suspects were charged on a three-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, murder and arson.
They are Awodele Adedigba, Dauda Kazeem and Hassan Ramon.
They were said to have arrested Iskilu Wakili, the alleged bandits’ kingpin, who was also charged with conspiracy, murder and kidnapping, among others, alongside his sons.
According to the prosecuting counsel, Opeyemi Olagunju, the OPC members caused the death of a 45-year-old woman on March 7, 2021, at Kajola Village, in Ayete.
They were also accused of setting Wakili’s house ablaze and causing damage to the tune of N5 million.
Chief Magistrate, Olaide Hamzat, ordered their remand in the correctional facility and directed the Police to return the case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
He adjourned the matter till April 21 for mention.
Meanwhile, the OPC has condemned charges raised against its members, saying that the Police had changed the narratives.
Publicity Secretary of the OPC, Yinka Oguntimehin, described the murder and arson charges as shocking.
He said, “It is most unfortunate that the police twisted the narratives and accused our members of arson and murder. The police decision against our members was nothing but a misplaced one and it was discouraging.
“People tend to be discouraged most times when things like these happen because there are no ways organisations like ours that have the capacity to assist the police in ensuring effective security of people will continue without giving it a thought.
“But we would not be discouraged in our effort. We will always play our roles in ensuring that our region is safe against criminal elements.”
