A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State capital, has remanded five members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ilesa Correctional facility over alleged attempted murder.
Those remanded in prison are loyalists of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who belong to the Osun Progressives caucus of the party. They were arrested on connection with the clash that erupted on Tuesday during the group’s meeting in Ikirun.
Two persons were reportedly injured during the clash.
Meanwhile, the police in the early hours of Wednesday arrested five members of APC; Akinlade Abayomi, 38, Sodiq Atitebi, 25, Azeez Adejimi, 28, Solomon Alatayo, 36 and Siju Oyewumi 68. There were charged to court on three counts, bordering on attempted murder.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Jacob Akintunde told the court that, Abayomi, Atitebi, Adejimi, Alatayo, Oyewumi and others now at large on February 1, 2022, at 1:45 PM at Ikirun in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State conspired among themselves to wit unlawful society with intent to kill one Fatai Asimiyu by inflicting machete cuts on his head.
He added that the defendants also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace.
He stressed that the offences committed by five defendants contravened Section 516, 320 (1) and 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Cap. 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State Nigeria 2002.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the offences preferred against them.
Defence counsel, Mr Olatunbosun Oladipupo in his oral bail application, urged the court to admit the defendants to bail in the most liberal terms.
Inspector Akintunde opposed the bail, saying, “other suspects in connection with the crime are still at large and the matter may eventually lead to murder as the wounded person is still in hospital battling for his life.”
Presiding magistrate, Mr Asimiyu Adebayo ordered that the five defendants be remanded in Ilesa correctional center and adjourned the case to February 23, 2022, for ruling on bail.
