By Ayodele Popoola

The Ondo State Police command has arraigned three men before an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court for the alleged murder of a 30-year old man, Raphael Ajewole

The defendants: Lawal Ayomide,32; Rasheed Audu,28 and Ojo Sunday are facing a four count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder and accessory after the fact.

The police prosecutor, Josephine Awana told the court that defendants and others at large on December 21, 2024 at about 10.30am at Owo in the Ondo State Magisterial District conspired to commit felony to wit: murder.

Awana alleged that the first defendant, Lawal, shot the deceased, one Ajewole with a locally made double barrel gun on his chest which resulted to his death.

The prosecutor further told the court that the other two defendants commit felony to wit: accessory after the fact by assisting one of the assailants, Tijani Abubakar to escape punishment after knowing fully to them that he has committed the offence of murder.

The offences according to the prosecutor contravenes Sections 324, 319 (1)(2)(a) and (b), 3(1) and 517 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol. II, Laws of Ondo  State of Nigeria 2006.

The pleas of the defendants were not taken due to the nature of the offence.

Awana urged the court to remand the defendant in any of the correctional centres in the state pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP.

Chief Magistrate Olateju Odenusi-Fadeyi ordered the remand of the defendants at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, Akure and adjourned the case till April 23, for a ruling on the application.