Grants bail to three murder suspects
Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
A suspected rapist, Tope Ojolo, has been remanded in prison custody by an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court for robbing and raping a female student of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti.
Ojolo, 21, was arraigned in court by the police for the offence committed on September 17 after the state police command concluded its investigation.
The accused on the said date conveyed the victim from the town but veered into the bush few metres away from the college campus where he allegedly raped and robbed her of some of her personal effects.
He turned himself over to the palace of the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu, after a manhunt was launched on him, before the monarch handed him over to the police.
The suspect had confessed to the crime at the Ikere Main Police Station, and exhibits such as offensive weapons were recovered from him.
At the court proceeding, police prosecutor, Sergeant Monica Ikebuilo, urged the court to grant her request to enable her send the duplicate file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.
Defence counsel, Timi Omotoso, took date to approach the appropriate court for the bail of his client.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Dolapo Akinsanya, ordered the remand of the suspect pending the issuance of the legal advice.
Meanwhile, an Ado-Ekiti High Court has granted bail to three suspects accused of murder during the riot that trailed the land dispute between Ayede and Itaji communities in Oye Local Government Area on January 31.
The suspects, Joshua Akanbi, Abiodun Ogundaisi and Segun Ogundaisi, are standing trial for complicity in the murder of one Seyi Oladipo during the battle between the two communities for the ownership of Orisunmibare farm settlement.
At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday Justice Toyin Abodunde admitted the three suspects to bail in the sum of N500,000 and one surety each.
Each of the surety, the judge ruled, must be a community leader, who must deposit his Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
She held that the suspects must sign an undertaking not to cause any trouble or be involved in any breach of public peace and to maintain peace throughout the period of the trial, stressing that the court will not hesitate to revoke the bail if they cause trouble again.
The accused persons are standing trial on two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.
The court adjourned the case to November 6 and 7 for definite hearing.
