The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has arraigned the newly elected Chairman of Irewole Local Government Area of the state, Jide Jooda, for allegedly participating in unlawful assembly and possessing dane guns illegally.
Jooda, elected during the February 22, 2025 local government election in the state, was arrested, according to the police during the crisis that enveloped the state over struggle by the ruling People’s Democratic Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress to control the third tier of government.
No fewer than seven individuals were killed while others were injured during the crisis that ravaged the state on February 17, 2025.
The police, consequently, arrested 60-year-old Jooda alongside five others and dragged them before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, capital of the state for offences bordering on unlawful assembly, conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and illegal possession of guns.
Other five suspects arraigned are Yekini Wahab, 26, Wakili Yakubu, 23, Ganiyu Habeeb, 32, Owolade Nureni, 62 and 38-year-old Abayomi Olarewaju.
Police prosecutor, Adekunle Jacob, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, informed the court that the six defendants and others said to be at large, committed the alleged offences on or about February 17, 2025 at Ikire town in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State.
The charge preferred against the accused persons read, “That you Hon. Jide Jooda, Yekini Wahab, Wakili Yakubu, Ganiyu Habeeb, Owoade Nureni, and Abayomi Olanrewaju and others now at large on or about the 17th day of February, 2025 at Ikire town in Irewole L.G.A. Osun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while acting in concert conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: unlawful assembly and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal; Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Hon. Jide Jooda, Yekini Wahab, Wakili Yakubu, Ganiyu Habeeb, Owoade Nureni, and Abayomi Olanrewaju and others now at large on or about the 17th day of February, 2025 at Ikire town in Irewole L.G.A. Osun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while acting in concert unlawfully formed and took part in unlawful Assembly and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 70 of the Criminal; Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Hon. Jide Jooda, Yekini Wahab, Wakili Yakubu, Ganiyu Habeeb, Owoade Nureni, and Abayomi Olanrewaju, and others now at large on or about the 17th day of February, 2025 at Ikire town in Irewole L.G.A. Osun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while acting in concert conducted yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace or reasonable apprehension of the breach of peace and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal; Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Hon. Jide Jooda ‘M’, Yekini Wahab, Wakili Yakubu, Ganiyu Habeeb, Owoade Nureni and Abayomi Olanrewaju and others now at large on or about the 17th day of February, 2025 at Ikire town in Irewole L.G.A. Osun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while acting in concert, were arrested in possessions of 5 MUZZLE LOADING (DANE GUNS) Firearms without license or authority of the commissioner of Police with the consent of the Governor of a state and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 (C) (i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Hon. Jide Jooda, Yekini Wahab, Wakili Yakubu, Ganiyu Habeeb, Owoade Nureni, and Abayomi Olanrewaju and others now at large on or about the 17th day of February, 2025 at Ikire town in Irewole L.G.A. State of Osun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while acting in concert willfully places members of the public in fear of physical Injury and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 4 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015.”
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the five count charge slammed against them. Their counsel, I. T. Atewogbade, urged the court to grant them bail in liberal terms.
Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, therefore, granted them bail in the sum of N1 million and a surety each in the same amount.
The matter was adjourned till May 15 for mention.
Also, Egbetokun has arraigned six suspected hoodlums for allegedly conducting themselves in a manner that was likely to cause breach of public peace in Osun State.
The docked suspects included Ibrahim Raji, aged 28, Akanbi Gbenga, 31, Olasupo Taiye, 29, Ibrahim Olayiwola, 25, Abduljeleel Ibrahim, 28, and Emmanuel Timileyin, 27.
They were said to have been arrested with guns, dangerous weapons and live ammunition on or about February 22, 2025 at Ororuwo in Boripe Local Government Area of the state.
Recall that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission conducted election into chairmanship and councillor positions in the state on February 22.
There had been reports of skirmishes in some parts of the state during the electoral exercise.
When the defendants were docked before Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara in Osogbo, they were accused of possessing prohibited firearms and causing panic among residents in the state.
The charge read, “That you Ibrahim Raji, Akanbi Gbenga, Olasupo Taiye, Ibrahim Olayiwola, Abduljeleel Ibrahim, and Emmanuel Timileyin, and others now at large on or about the 22nd day of February 2025, at Ororuwo in Boripe L.G.A Osun State while acting in concert and armed with Cut to Size Locally made Barrel Prohibited Firearm and other dangerous weapons conspired amongst yourselves to commit a Felony to wit: unlawful possession of firearms and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
That you (accused persons) on or about the 22nd day of February 2025, at Ororuwo in Boripe L.G.A Osun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court while acting in concert and armed with Cut to Size Locally made Barrel Prohibited Firearm and other dangerous weapons conducted yourselves in a public places in a manner likely to cause breach of peace or reasonable apprehension of the breach of peace and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“While acting in concert and armed with Cut to Size Locally made Single Barrel Prohibited Firearm and other dangerous weapons, that you (defendants) were arrested by the police in possession of 1 Cut to size Single Barrel Gun prohibited Firearm without license or justification and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 punishable under section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act CAP F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you and others now at large on or about the 22nd day of February 2025, at Ororuwo in Boripe L.G.A Osun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court while acting in concert and armed with Cut to Size Locally made Single Barrel Prohibited Firearm and other dangerous weapons were arrested by the police in possession of 1 (one) live Ammunition of Single barrel prohibited firearm without license or justification and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8 punishable under section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act CAP F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
According to the police prosecutor, Akintunde Jacob, the defendants placed members of the public in fear of physical injuries and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 4 of the Violence Against Persons Act 2015.
Their lawyer, I. T. Atewogbade, prayed the court to admit them to bail as the constitution presumes them innocent until the contrary is proven against them.
Chief Magistrate Ayilara equally granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N1 million with one surety each in the like sum. The matter has been adjourned till May 15 for mention.
