By Oluwadamilola Akinduro
Three persons have been arraigned before an Akure Magistrates’ Court for allegedly attacking a prophet and destroying property worth over N1 million in Ore, Ondo State.
The defendants, Roseline Lijoka, 65; Medinat Akeem, 50; and Akinwunmi Lijoka, 43 were brought before the court by the Ondo State Police Command for offences allegedly committed on January 28, 2025, at Ore Housing Estate, Ore, Ondo State.
Police prosecutor, Adebayo Sulaiman, told the court that the accused persons, along with others still at large, conspired to commit malicious damage, threaten lives and engage in acts capable of breaching public peace.
Sulaiman alleged that the trio unlawfully and maliciously used a bulldozer to destroy a wall fence valued at N1 million, property of one Prophet Samuel Omoniyi.
He further informed the court that the defendants allegedly stormed the scene with about 30 armed thugs, threatening the life of the said prophet.
In addition, the prosecutor said the accused persons also threatened and assaulted one Nelson Ebijimi, a site engineer, along with his workers, using sticks, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons.
According to him, the trio further conducted themselves in a disorderly manner by brandishing cutlasses to instill fear and cause panic in the estate.
He also alleged that the defendants falsely presented themselves as officers of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU), parading themselves as Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) in an attempt to obstruct justice and mislead the public.
The offences, he noted, are contrary to Sections 516, 451, 86, 355, 249(d), 484, and 109 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecutor, while disclosing the readiness of the prosecution to call witnesses, urged the court for an adjournment to allow proper review of the case file.
Counsel to the defendants, Barrister O. Akinduro, prayed the court to grant bail to his clients on liberal terms, assuring their readiness to meet the bail conditions and provide credible sureties.
Ruling on the bail application, Magistrate Damilola Sekoni granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each with one surety in like sum.
Sekoni added that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and submit two passport photographs, an affidavit of means and evidence of tax clearance.
The matter was adjourned till June 6, 2025, for further hearing.