BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Three members of the Nigerian Legion, the umbrella body of retired military men, have been arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo, Osun State for attempted murder by beating two men and feeding them with poisonous cashew nuts.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Adeoye Kayode, told the court that the three men, Oyeboade Matthew, aged 49; Daramola Sunday, 44; and Adeoye Olalekan, 49, committed the offence at Hallelujah Estate, Osogbo, at about 6:58pm, on February 27.
The defendants were said to have arrested one Segun Animashaun and Peter Godwin, tied them down and beat them to a pulp. The prosecutor said that the defendants forced the two persons to eat raw cashew nuts, which damaged their health while in the custody of the Legion.
He added that the complainants sustained injuries on their necks and hands due to battery.
The charge read, “That you (the defendants) on the same date, time and in the aforementioned magisterial district, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace by calling yourselves trained security personnel under the Nigeria Legion and tied one Animashaun Segun and Peter Godwin with serious beatings and forced them to take raw cashew nuts in the name of suspects under your command without preliminary investigation.”
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed were contrary to and punishable under Sections 516, 320, 355, and 249(d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
However, they pleaded not guilty to the four counts bordering on assault and attempted murder. Their counsels, Okobe Najite, and Felix Ukaigbu, applied for their bail in liberal terms.
The Magistrate, O. A. Oloyade, granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety each in like sum. The matter was adjourned till September 5 for mention.
