From Michael Ofulue,  Osogbo

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Two operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Operation Amotekun in Osun State, have been brought before a Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo for allegedly assaulting a man.

The Osun State Police Command charged the two security agents, Arimoro Sunday, aged 43, and Lateef Adeoye, 28, before Magistrate M. A. Olatunji on two counts charge of conspiracy and assault.

Police prosecutor, G. M. Akintayo informed the court that the duo, along with others  at large, attacked and assaulted one Afeez Salami.

Akintayo said the incident happened on June 20, 2024, at about 8:30 am in the Sabo Area of Osogbo.

He alleged that Sunday and Adeoye beat Salami and inflicted injuries on him.

The charge read in part: “That you, Arimoro Sunday, Lateef Adeoye, and two others at large, on the 20th day of June, 2024, at about 8:30am in the Sabo Area, Osogbo, in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did conspire to commit a felony, to wit assault, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code CAP 34 Vol II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

“That you, Sunday Arimoro, Lateef Adeoye, and two others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did assault one Afeez Salami by beating him up and causing him to sustain injuries, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code CAP 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.”

The Amotekun operatives pleaded not guilty to the alleged offences.

Their counsel, Theophilus Idowu, moved an oral application for their bail, urging the court to consider that they are security operatives and grant them bail on liberal terms.

Magistrate Olatunji granted the defendants bail with two sureties, one of whom must be a level 10 civil servant.

The matter was adjourned till August 7, 2024, for mention.

Findings revealed that Salami, the complainant, had allegedly beaten his wife, simply identified as Kehinde, an operative of Osun Amotekun Corps before her colleagues, including the two defendants, attempted to arrest Salami.

It was gathered that there was a confrontation between Salami and the operatives before the former invited the police and claimed that he was assaulted.