By Ayodele Popoola
A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Akure has remanded two out of the five suspects arrested for the murder of a 25-years-old driver, Temitope Olorufemi.
The suspects: Victor Amos, 30; Pelumi Farotimi, 42 were ordered to be remanded at the Olokuta correctional centre pending the issuance of legal advice by the Department of Public Prosecution, DPP.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Musa Al-Yunus said there are probable causes to remand the two suspects who were the first 1st and 3rd defendants in the case.
The police prosecutor told the court that Amos, the 1st defendant, was identified in a viral video where he was seen beating the deceased and later hit his head with a block.
Also, Farotimi, the 3rd defendant, was identified by the deceased’s elder brother, Oluwatosin, as the one who pushed him (Oluwatosin) when he was trying to rescue his brother and ordered that he should be beaten.
Al-Yunus, however, granted bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties in like sum to the 2nd, 4th and 5th defendants on the ground that there is no probable cause for their detention.
The trio: Boboye Ismaila, Nurudeen Kumuteyi and Samuel Olatunji were granted bail to the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties, according to the magistrate, must have landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
The case was adjourned till August 8, 2023 for mention.
Recall the police on April 20, had earlier arraigned the five suspects suspect for conspiracy, murder and arson.
According to the prosecution, the accused persons and others at large committed the offences on April 10, 2023 at about 9.00pm, at opposite Odopo Town Hall, along Ijoka Road, Akure.
The prosecutor informed the court that the accused conspired to commit felony and unlawful murder of the deceased, Temitope.
The accused were alleged to have murdered the deceased in cold blood with stick, stone and other offensive weapons.
Akintimehin told the court that the accused also maliciously damaged one Toyota Camry car with number plate KRD 627 GY, by setting it ablaze.
According to the charge, the offences contravene Sections 324, 316(1) and 451(6)(J) of the Criminals Code, Cap 37 Vol. 2 Laws of Ondo State.
The court did not take the pleas of the defendants for lack of jurisdiction.
