By Sunmola Olowooker

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Three traditional chiefs and two others have been arraigned before an Akure High Court over charges ranging from conspiracy, murder, arson to malicious damage the palace of Ode community’s monarch.

The five men; Ajayi Samson, Kole Omojowo, Oluwole Karimu, Akinsulu Mayowa and Lucky William had been on police administrative bail since April last year.

The men were alleged to have murdered two persons; Sola Osukuti and Adebayo Boboye at 7 a.m on December, 3 2020 at the palace of Oba Adewale Sunday Boboye in Ode community.

According to the charges, the defendants had allegedly shot the second victim and set him ablaze in a pilot jeep.

They were also alleged of  burning down the palace of the monarch on the midnight of December 10, 2020.

They also damaged his property such as Toyota Highlander worth 8.5 million naira, Honda Pilot car worth 2.8 million naira and other properties worth 5 million naira.

At the time of committing these crimes, they were alleged to have been armed with dangerous weapons such as gun, cutlasses and other offensive weapons.

The prosecuting counsel, Helen Falowo informed the court that the prosecution has 11 witnesses to call in the case and promised the court of accelerated prosecution while urging the court to remand the defendants in prison custody till the determination of the case.

The defense counsel, Ola Dan Olawale urged the court to resist the application of the prosecution and release the defendants on bail while promising that they would always appear in court.

The trial judge, Justice Adeyemi Fasanmi ordered that the defendants be allowed to continue on the police administrative bail and adjourned the case till February 28, March 15 and 16, 2022.