Two Suspects In Court Over Disturbance Of Public Peace

By Ummultalha Yusuf

Two suspects, Adetunji Ajulo, 52 and Eweje Timi, 36, have been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate court over unlawful assembly and rioting.

The charge sheet made available to journalists in the court disclosed that the accused persons conspired to unlawfully assembled and cause breach of public peace.

It added that the defendants with intent to carry out some common purpose unlawfully assembled themselves and blocked the entrance gate of Uni-Osun with two vehicle causing fear and panic among residents in the neighbourhood.

Furthermore, it added that the suspects unlawfully attempted to commit felony to wit: malicious damage to Uni-Osun property.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants committed the alleged offence on November 22, 2018 at about 6pm at Uni-Osun main campus Oke-Baale area, Osogbo

It added that the offence committed contravenes Section 516 of the criminal code cap 34 vol.11 laws of Osun state Nigeria, 2002.

However, when the charges were read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to the six count charges levelled against them.

The defence counsel, Mr. Olusola Ajao prayed the court to admit the suspects to bail, he said the defendants are ready to provide a reliable surety for their bail and to stand for their trial.

Ajao said, though granting and refusing of bail is at the discredition of the court, but urged the court to accept their prayer because the second defendant is a nursing mother.

“I urge this honourable court to use its power judiciously and judicially”, he submitted.

The prosecutor, Mr. Okafor Felix objected to the bail application and argued that they should not be granted bail for now in order to calm the rising tension in the area.

The defence counsel said the prosecutor had not said anything to persuade the court not to grant bail.

He affirmed that the defendants are still innocent until proven otherwise, says the law.

He said the court does not act on speculation, they act on fact which are yet to revealed.

Presiding magistrate, Mr. O. T Badmus said the suspects have right to bail, refusing them bail will amount to punishing them when there is no evidence yet.

He then granted bail  to the  accused persons in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each.

He ordered that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and one of the sureties must be a civil servant of not less than grade level 10 while the other must be a tax payer.

He later adjourned the case till December 28, 2018 for hearing.