No fewer than 29 suspects were on Wednesday arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court for their involvement and roles in the aborted invasion of the Oyo state government secretariat on Saturday, April 13.
They were arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on treasonable felony, unlawful society, illegal possession of a firearm, going armed and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
The offences, according to the Investigative Police Officer, Bakare Rasaq, an Inspector with the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, are contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo state of Nigeria, 2000.
The number rose by eight additional suspects following the initial parade of 21 suspects by the Oyo State Police Command.
The case with charge number Mi/520c/2024 is between the Commissioner of Police and 29 suspects.
The case came up for mention in Court 1 before Chief Magistrate Mrs O.O. Ogunkanmi.
The names of the defendants include Ayanwale Rofiat ‘F’, 25yrs; Ismaila Adepoju ‘M’, 45yrs; Ayanwale Saburi ‘M’, 28yrs; Adeola Elegbede ‘M’, 27yrs; Fatoki Anthony ‘M’, 34yrs; Olalere Mathew ‘M’, 54yrs; Isaac Friday ‘M’, 27yrs and Ismaila Malomo Peter ‘M’, 65yrs.
Others are Farumbi Wasiu ‘M’, 30yrs; Muritala Abefe ‘M’, 40years; Adeyemo Joseph ‘M’, 29years, Adeyemo Peter ‘M’ 75years; Adesokan Hameed ‘M’ 37years; Adejumo Lateef ‘M’, 60years; Ogundeji Alabi ‘M’, 55years, Ayoola David ‘M’, 40years; Ojo Olufemi ‘M’, 52years; Ajani Ezekiel ‘M’, 42years and Amos Oluwaseyi Ogundeji ‘M’, 45years.
The list also includes Ademola Adeniyi ‘M’, 29years; Salaudeen Wahab ‘M’, 56years; Dosumu Toyin ‘F’, 65years, Abiona Esther ‘F’, 78years; Omoyajowo Funsho ‘F’, 64years; Tola Olufemi ‘F’, 60years; Oritola Alabi ‘M’, 44years, Kayode Fakeye ‘M’ 45years, Taiwo Titilayo ‘F’, 58years and Yusuf Adebayo ‘M’ 67years.
The charge sheet reads in parts: “That the defendants “and others now at large, on the 13th April, 2024 at about 8:30 am, at Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan in the Ibadan Magisterial District did conspire with one another to commit felony to wit: treasonable felony, unlawful society, going armed and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
“On the same date, time and place in the aforementioned mentioned magisterial district did unlawfully form an intention and manifest the intention to forcefully remove the democratically elected Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde during his term of office invaded the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan with arms and declaring the birth of Yoruba Nation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 41(b) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
“That the defendants and others at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did unlawfully belong to a group of people declaring the birth of Yoruba Nation which is an unlawful society and thereby committed g an offence contrary to Section 62 and punishable under Section 64 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
“That the defendants and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did unlawfully go armed in the public with guns, cutlasses, charms, and knives without lawful occasion in such a manner as to cause terror to Executive Governor of Oyo State Engr. Seyi Makinde and the public and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 80 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
“That the defendants and others at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by going armed in the public and declaring the Yoruba Nation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo of Nigeria, 2000.
“That the defendants and others at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did conspire with one another to commit felony to wit: unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 6b of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That the defendants and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did unlawfully have in your possession five English Pump Action guns, three locally made barrel guns, 405 rounds of live cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
A mild drama played out in the court when one of the defendants collapsed during the session while the charges were being read.
She was immediately attended to and came back alive when water was poured on her by a combination of police officers and court officials.
No plea was taken as the court ordered that the defendants be kept in the Correctional facility.
Ruling on the case, Chief Magistrate Ogunkanmi adjourned the matter till August 1, for a hearing.