Ekiti monarch, five others arraigned for murder

The Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, was on Wednesday remanded by an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for alleged murder.
They were arraigned in connection with violence which erupted shortly after the monarch inaugurated his hotel located in Gbemisola area of the town on Friday.
Suspected thugs vandalized the hotel over a statement made by Obasoyin which they believed was against the interest of a governorship aspirant who hails from the town.
The monarch’s loyalists allegedly launched a reprisal attack on those identified as the perpetrators on Monday and one Kolade Adefemi was killed during the fracas.
Others charged with the Olukere were – Ajewole Sunday, Adetowoju Bode, Kayode Michael, Olowolafe Tola and Aluko Taiwo.
According to a remand order form marked MAD/181fk/17, the accused persons were arraigned for conspiracy, attempted murder of Ayodele Osanyinbola and murder of Kolade Adefemi.
The offences are punishable under Section (1) and 319 (1) of Criminal Code Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012 within Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District.
Defence counsel, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, urged the court to grant bail to the accused persons.
Police prosecutor, Insp. Johnson Okunade, opposed the bail application and pleaded that the court granted the remand request.
Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye refused the bail application and ordered the accused persons be remanded in prison pending the issuance of legal advice on the case.
Adegboye adjourned the case till January 8, 2018.
Human rights lawyer, Morakinyo Ogele, condemned the arrest, detention, arraignment and remand of Olukere and accused the police of bias.
Ogele, an Ikere indigene, said Obasoyin was victimised for declaring during the commissioning of his hotel that “Ikere has no candidate yet for the 2018 governorship election.”
He said: “The offence of the Olukere was that he declared that Ikere has no candidate yet for next year’s governorship election while declaring his hotel open and the role of the Commissioner of Police in this matter does not reflect unbiased policing.
“I see no reason why the hotel should be destroyed and at the same time charging the Oba to court. Those who attacked his hotel aimed for his life and the role of the government is condemnable.
“There is a criminal alliance between the police, the government and an indigene of Ikere in the whole episode.”