The Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, was on Wednesday
remanded by an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for alleged murder.
He was arraigned in connection with violence which erupted shortly
after he inaugurated his hotel located in Gbemisola area of the town on
Friday.
Suspected thugs vandalized the hotel over a statement made by
Obasoyin which they believed was against the interest of a governorship
aspirant who hails from the town.
Obasoyin’s loyalists allegedly launched a reprisal attack on those
identified as the perpetrators on Monday which claimed the life of one
Kolade Adefemi.
Others charged with the Olukere on an order to remand filed by the
Commissioner of Police were Ajewole Sunday, Adetowoju Bode, Kayode
Michael, Olowolafe Tola and Aluko Taiwo.
According to the remand order form marked MAD/181fk/17, the accused
persons were charged with conspiracy, attempted murder of Ayodele
Osanyinbola and murder of Kolade Adefemi.
The offences are punishable under Section (1) and 319 (1) of Criminal
Code Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012 within Ado-Ekiti Magisterial
District on or about the 25th December, 2017.
Defence counsel, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, urged the court to grant bail to the accused persons.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Okunade, opposed the bail
application and pleaded that the court granted the remand order request.
Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye refused the bail application and
ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison pending the
issuance of legal advice on the case.
Adegboye adjourned the case till 8th of January, 2018.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Morakinyo Ogele has condemned the
arrest, detention, arraignment and remand of Olukere and accused the
Police of bias and doing the bidding of the state government.
Ogele, an Ikere indigene, said Obasoyin was victimised for declaring
during the commissioning of his hotel that “Ikere has no candidate yet
for the 2018 governorship election.”
He said: “The offence of the Olukere was that he declared that Ikere
has no candidate yet for next year’s governorship election while
declaring his hotel open and the role of the Commissioner of Police in
this matter does not reflect unbiased policing.
“I see no reason why the hotel should be destroyed and at the same
time charging the Oba to court. Those who attacked his hotel aimed for
his life and the role of the government is condemnable.
“There is a criminal alliance between the Police, the government and an indigene of Ikere in the whole episode.”