A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, on Monday, has ordered the remand of the three suspects arrested in relation to last Saturday’s killings during the House of Assembly Constituency election in Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti East local government of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those dragged before the court were Adenijo Olusola, 38, popularly called Solar; Paul Folorunso, 45, popularly known as Folly; and Adebayo Serifat, 40, a female, arrested for the alleged killings in Omuo Ekiti.
The three, facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, murder and attempted murder, were ordered by the court to be remanded at the Federal Correctional Centre in Ado-Ekiti.
They were accused of committing an offence of murder of Babatunde Adeleye and Bola Adebisi.
The defendants were also alleged to have attempted to murder a woman Police Sergeant, Bukola Olawoye; Akanle Oluwadare; Tosin Adeniyi; and Omolola Emmanuel.
The three persons while at the court pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder slammed on them by the police.
The case brought by police before the court was supported by an eight paragraphs affidavit deposed to by ASP Adio Ayuba of the homicide section of the Nigeria Police State CIID, Ado Ekiti.
In the Charge Sheet made available to newsmen, marked MAD/63FK/2021, it was alleged that there were reasonable grounds that the defendants committed the offence.
The police officer through the affidavit also noted that the victims were critically injured and receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti.
Also in the affidavit, one of the victims, a serving woman police Sergeant Bukola Olawoye deployed for election duty was critically injured.
The Police Officer prayed the court to grant his application as prayed, adding that he has duly complied with Section 2, Sub Section 1 laws of Ekiti state.
The State Director of Public Prosecution, Julius Ajibare told the court of his readiness to take over the matter citing Section 2 of the constitution, which he said empowers him to take over the matter.
In the Form K brought before the Magistrate Court, the court was informed that there was probable cause to order the remand of Adenijo Olushola, Paul Folorunsho and Adebayo Sherifat Oluwaseyi (F) in Correctional Centre custody who were reasonably suspected to have committed the offence if attempt to murder of W/Sgt Bukola Olowoye (F), Akanle Oluwadare (M), Tosin Adeniyi(F) and Omolola Emmanuel (M) .
The offence he said was punishable under section 320 of the Criminal Code Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012 within the Omuo Ekiti magisterial District.
Grounds For the Request:
-Place and time of Arrest Omuo Ekiti 20/03/2021.
-Arrested with exhibits -Nil
-Fingerprint Evidence. -YES
Confessional Statement. -NIL
-Found in Custody or possession of offensive weapons -YES
– Identification by victim or witness – YES
– Need for further investigation- Duplicate case file to be sent to DPP for legal advice.
In a swift reaction at the open court a lawyer, Busuyi Ayorinde told the court that the law still permit other parties to be heard on the matter in order not to infringe on their fundamental human Rights .
He told the court that the affidavits is before the court, adding that the motion exparte before the court was dated 22nd of March 2021.
The trial magistrate, Abdulhameed Lawal in his ruling explained that he was convinced that the accused persons were actually involved in the incident as he consequently ordered them to be remanded in the federal correctional center, Ado Ekiti pending the legal advice from the State DPP.
The magistrate adjourned the case till April 19, 2021.
