Court Docks Osun Monarch, Elegbedi For Alleged Robbery, Arson

The Osun State Government on Wednesday, arraigned the Elegbedi of Egbedi in Egbedore Local Government Area, Oba Muideen Azeez, for allegedly robbing a farm.

Oba Azeez was arraigned alongside four others before a state High court sitting in Ede on 29 counts of robbery, arson, malicious damage, violence, and forceful entry.

The other defendants are Akibu Azeez, Yisa Surajudeen, Rasidi Ayandiran and Sarafadeen Abioye.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges contained in the suit filed HED/02c/2024 between the state and the defendants.

Speaking in court, the state counsel, Barrister Dele Akintayo, said the suspects conspired to commit robbery with violence at a farm in Iloba, Osun State.

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Akintayo told the court that the suspects, while armed with firearms and offensive weapons, also robbed one Wasilatu Akinola and other women processing palm oil on a farm in Iloba.

He also said the suspects and others at large set the palace of, Oloba of lloba and other buildings in the town on fire.

Some of the charges read, “Oba Muideen Olaniyi Azeez (A.K.A Asemalu), Akibu Azeez, Abioye, Yisa Surajudeeb Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran, Sarafadeen Abioye and others at large, on or about 3rd September 2019 at a farm in Iloba within Ede Judicial Division, did conspire among yourselves to commit a offence to wit; robbery with violence.

“Oba Muideen Olaniyi Azeez (A.K.A Asemalu), Akibu Azeez, Abioye, Yisa Surajudeeb Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran, Sarafadeen Abioye and others at large, on or about 3 September 2013 at a farm in Boba within Ede Judicial Division, willfully and unlawfully set the palace of Oba Lasisi Gbadamosi, Oloba of lloba and other buildings in lloba town on fire.

“Oba Muideen Olaniyi Azeez (A.K.A Asemalu), Akibu Azeez, Abioye, Yisa Surajudeeb Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran, Sarafadeen Abioye and others at large, on or about 3rd September,
2019 at a farm in lloba within Ede Judicial Division, willfully and unlawfully set the house of Abubakar Abdullateef in lloba town on fire.

“Oba Muideen Olaniyi Azeez (A.K.A Asemalu), Akibu Azeez, Abioye, Yisa Surajudeeb Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran, Sarafadeen Abioye and others at large, on or about 28th May 2021 at Opeoluwa Intergrated Farming Resources Ltd farm area between Iloba and Egbedi within Ede Judicial Division, forcefully took over farmland, which was in actual and peaceful possession of Saheed Majeed, and destroyed crops on the land.

“Oba Muideen Olaniyi Azeez (A.K.A Asemalu), Akibu Azeez, Abioye, Yisa Surajudeeb Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran, Sarafadeen Abioye and others at large, on or about 28th May 2021 at Opeoluwa Intergrated Farming Resources Ltd farm area between Iloba and Egbedi within Ede Judicial Division, without lawful authority did threaten violence to forcefully secure entry into the said farmland, which was in actual and peaceful possession of Opeoluwa Integrated Farming Resources Ltd owned by Pa Abiodun Oladapo, to destroy the crops on the land and sell the land.”

In his oral bail application, counsel to the defendants, Bukola Atobatele, prayed the court to allow the defendants to continue to enjoy bail conditions granted at a Magistrate court sitting in the state but the move was opposed by State counsel.

Justice Akano upheld the prosecuting counsel’s submission on the ground that the particulars of the case before the magistrate court were different from the one before him.

The judge then adjourned the matter till July 4, 2024, for ruling bail application.