By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
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An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate Court has remanded two middle-aged men, Owoseni Adefolaran and Oluwatade Olaleye , for their alleged roles in meting out jungle justice on a woman they accused of stealing tubers of yam.
The two accused persons; Adefolaran, Secretary of Landlords’ Association and Olaleye, a security guard in Ado-Ekiti and others at large were reported to have brutalized the victim (name withheld) over yam theft allegation.
They were said to have inflicted grievous bodily injuries on her, stripped her naked and circulated videos of her nudity and attack on her on various social media platforms in Ado-Ekiti.
When the defendants were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Bankole Oluwasanmi, the prosecution alleged that they committed the offences at about 6.00am on September 5, at Aduramigba Community, Afao Road, Ado Ekiti.
They are facing three counts of conspiracy to commit felony, assault and conduct likely to cause breach of peace, contrary to and punishable under Sections 421, 186 and 181 of the Criminal Law, Volume 1, Laws of Ekiti State 2021 respectively.
Counsel to the defendants, Mr. Adefolaju Ayobioloja, urged the Court to admit his clients to bail. He said the first accused person is the security man in the community and the second accused person, the Secretary of the community.
The defence counsel argued that the offences are bailable, urging the Court to grant them bail in liberal terms.
Opposing the bail application, state counsel, Mrs. Shirley Atane, noted that although the offences are bailable, the state has strong doubts that the accused persons would not jump bail.
She contended that judging by the circumstances surrounding the offences and the number of people involved, the grant of bail would not assist in getting justice, as other alleged offenders are on the run.
Chief Magistrate Oluwasanmi, in his ruling upheld the submission of the prosecution and refused the accused persons bail.
The case was subsequently adjourned till September 19 for resumption of trial.
Meanwhile, the First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has condemned the jungle justice meted out to the victim and violation of the dignity of her human person.
She insisted that nobody should resort to self-help go through due process of the law to ventilate grievances.
In the same vein, the Ekiti State First Lady has mobilized the Gender Unit of her office to work with the office of the Attorney General to ensure that the victim gets justice.
