We are not guilty, ‘Yoruba Nation’ agitators tell court....Read Full Article>>

The Yoruba Nation agitators who invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat at Agodi in Ibadan, the state capital, have pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them before an Oyo State High Court.

On Wednesday, the agitators were all paraded before Justice K. B. Olawoyin.

The offence was committed on April 13, 2024, in Ibadan, in the Ibadan Judicial Division, an offence contrary to and punishable under section 37(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vo. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The case, with suit number I/51c/2024, which involves the State vs Adeyemo Peter & 26 others, was heard at Fiat Court 3, Ring Road, Ibadan.

All the suspects were brought to court and their pleas were taken.

The suspects are facing trial for invading the Secretariat at Agodi, Ibadan, on April 13, 2024, after allegedly declaring the sovereign Republic of Yoruba Nation.

The defendants (1- 27) facing trial were Adeyemo Peter, Adeyemo Joseph, Amos Oluwaseyi Ogundeji, Ayanwale Rofiat, Olalere Mathew, Ismaila Malomo Peter, Fatoki Anthony, Murittala Abefe, Ismaila Adepoju, Fatunmbi Wasiu, Isaac Friday, Ayanwale Saburi, Adeola Elegbede, Ademola Adeniyi, Ogundeji Alabi, Ojo Olufemi, Ajani Ezekiel, Adejumo Lateef and Ayoola David.

Others were Adesokan Hameed, Adesokan Hameed, Abiona Esther, Omoyajowo Funsho, Tola Olufemi, Oritola Alabi, Kayode Fakeye and Taiwo Titilayo.

Adejumo Lateef, who was the 18th defendant, was pronounced dead at their first appearance.

The suspects were arraigned on five counts of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful assembly, treasonable felony and treason.

The case is being prosecuted by the state government team led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr S. O Adeoye, O. R. Yussuf (Deputy DPP), O. S Tella (DDPP) and three Senior State counsel, including S. A. Osuolale, Isa Busari and O. A Bolarinwa.
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While S.A Sanni appeared for the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th and 13th defendants, Adebola Ogungbe appeared for the third, fourth, 22nd defendants, Yomi Ogunlola represented 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 25th and 26th defendants and O. A Adeleke appeared for 23rd defendant.

During the proceeding, the state prosecutor told the court of its application before it.

The state is seeking to remove the name of the late defendant from the list, change a name that was listed twice and also include a name that was not listed.

The application was not opposed by any of the defendant’s counsel. The prosecution was moved in terms and the application was granted by the court.

One of the defence counsel, Ogunlola, told the court of an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain some counts of the criminal charges, noting that the state government needed the fiat of the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute those counts, especially the one that deals with treason.

He said, “The offences are federal offences, especially the one that deals with treason and not within the jurisdiction of the court, in pursuance of Section 37, Criminal Code Law of Oyo State, 2000, thus giving a notice of preliminary objection to the suit.”

The court, however, said the objection could not stop the scheduled arraignment, asking if other counsel were ready for the arraignment.

All the counsel answered in the affirmative.

As the proceeding began, the counts were read and interpreted to the defendants in Yoruba language and each of the accused persons (defendants) individually pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

After the arraignment, the prosecution prayed to the court for an adjournment to react to the notice of preliminary objections challenging the jurisdiction of the court, to which all the defendants’ counsel did not object.

Ruling, Justice Olawoyin adjourned the case till November 13, 2024, for hearing of the notice of preliminary objections as filed by Ogunlola, one of the counsel for the defendants.

Arraigning the accused person on Tuesday, the police told the court that the offence attracts life imprisonment as punishment if convicted.....Read Full Article>>

An Enugu State magistrate court has remanded a woman, Mrs. Ada Ogbogu, in the Enugu Correctional Centre for allegedly breaking her three-year-old stepson’s bone with a pestle.

Arraigning the accused person on Tuesday, the police told the court that the offence attracts life imprisonment as punishment if convicted.

The charge marked CME/646C/2024, reads, “That you, Ada Ogbogu, female, on the 23rd of October 2024, at about 1430hours at Ike Ani Estate, Emene Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did with intent to maim or disfigure one Kaitobechukwu Ogbogu, male, aged 3 years, pour hot water on his nose, mouth and hit him with a pestle, which dislocated his left legend caused him serious bodily and thereby committed an office punishable under Section 288 (a) of the Enugu Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II. Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.”

Her bail application was rejected by Chief Magistrate Alphonsus Edeh, who ordered that she should be remanded at Enugu Correctional Centre.

The court adjourned the matter to November 26, 2024, when the report from the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Ministry of Justice, is being expected.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, told journalists that Mrs. Ogbogu’s arraignment was in line with the administration’s vow to follow the matter to a logical conclusion, insisting that no child should be dehumanised in the state.

“Recall that the State Government had taken swift action on this matter by arresting the accused and today she is already in court.

“This decisive move demonstrates Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to protecting children. So, if you mistreat or abuse any child in Enugu, then you are in for trouble. Period,” she stated.

At least four people have been reported dead, and several houses have been set on fire following a violent resurgence of cult violence between rival groups in the North Bank area of Makurdi, the capital of Benue State. The deadly clash, which involved members of the Black Axe and Supreme Vikings confraternities, erupted over the weekend and continued into Monday, leaving the local community in a state of panic.....Read Full Article>>

According to sources, the violence began on Sunday and Monday when the two cult groups engaged in a bloody confrontation, resulting in widespread chaos in the North Bank area. As the clash intensified, residents and traders rushed to close their shops and flee, seeking safety from the escalating violence. Fearing reprisals, many locals have abandoned their homes, further adding to the tense atmosphere in the area.

Alhaji Haruna Nuhu, the chairman of the anti- cultism group in the North Bank area, known as Operations Shara, confirmed the attacks, stating that the clash between the two rival gangs began on Saturday night and stretched into Sunday and Monday. Nuhu also reported that four cult members were killed during the skirmishes, although their identities remain unknown.

He further detailed that, in addition to the four confirmed deaths, one victim was gruesomely dismembered, and another’ s body was discovered with severe injuries, including a pierced head. Nuhu said, ” As of yesterday, only one person was killed. Last week, two people were killed, and one of them was butchered horribly. We’ ve found one body with its head pierced. Yesterday, a person was shot in the eye. All in all, between last week and today, four people have died. ”

One anonymous resident of the area described the events as a ” rampage, ” mentioning that the violence also included the burning of homes. The resident expressed concern about the frequent cult clashes, which have disrupted daily life and led to significant fear among the local population. He said, ” There was a rampage yesterday in North Bank, and today, houses were set on fire again on Ter Guma Street. This constant violence is a serious problem that affects everyone, not just cult members. The government needs to act before more lives are lost. ”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, attempts to reach the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, for comment have been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the community remains on edge, with many residents wondering when the authorities will take concrete steps to address the growing problem of cult violence in the state.