Three men, including Lateef Jaye, aged 58, Ibraheem Salawu, 62, Waheed Ebiri, 55, have been arrested and arraigned for allegedly attempting to kill a traditional ruler of a village in Osun State.
The Police apprehended the trio, said to be community leaders at Irepodun Village in the state for allegedly chasing the Baale of the community with machetes over land.
According to the police, the three men armed themselves with cutlasses and started chasing Chief Adewale Sikiru, the Baale Irepodun Village Osogbo, with the aim of causing havoc in the community and eliminating him.
The incident allegedly happened on April 11, 2024.
When the three men were docked before an Osogbo Chief Magistrate’s Court, the police slammed them with five count-charges bordering on conspiracy, threat to life and felony.
The charge read, “That you Lateef Jaye, Salawu, Waheed Ebiri and others now at large on the 11th of April, 2024 at about 11am at Irepodun Village Osogbo in the Osogbo magisterial district did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit Threat to and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of Criminal code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“You did threat the life of one Chief Adewale Sikiru, the Baale Irepodun Village Osogbo when you chased him with cutlasses with intent to do him havoc and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 86 (1) of criminal code cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“That you did enter into the land which is in peaceable possession of His royal Highness Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, the Ataoja of Osogbo put in care of Chief Adewale Sikiru, the Baale Irepodun Village Osogbo and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 81 of criminal code cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“You did disobey the judgment of the High Court of Justice in Case no HOS/102/2018 delivered by Justice Ayo Oyebiyi on 29/3/2022 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 133 (9) of criminal code cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“You did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace when you chased Chief Adewale Sikiru, the Baale Irepodun Village Osogbo in public place that you will eliminate him and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 249 (D) of criminal code cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.”
They pleaded not guilty to the allegations. Their counsel, Suileiman Akano, urged the court to grant them bail.
However, Police Prosecutor, Rasaq Olayiwola objected to the bail application.
Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety each who must be a traditional chief living in his house and would be ready to submit the title documents to the court.
When the accused persons could not meet the bail conditions, they were remanded at Ilesa Correctional Centre while the case was adjourned till May 23 for mention.
