A 35-year-old suspect, Akinola Babatunde, popularly known as Agoro was on Thursday ordered to be remanded at the state CID, by a magistrate court sitting in Ilorin over the role he allegedly played in an attack that led to the death of three persons in Odo-Owo, Oke Ero local government of Kwara state.
Recall that a clash broke out when some suspected thugs allegedly lunched an attack while celebrating egungun festival in 2019.
Akinola who hails from Arin-Rin compound in Odo Owa was arraigned before Magistrate Olaolu M Abayomi for criminal conspiracy, mischief, rioting armed with deadly weapon, being in possession of criminal charms and culpable homicide.
The FIR narrated that the suspect who alongside nine others have been on-the-run since 2019 after an attack on Odo Owa and its neighboring communities leading the police to place him on wanted list.
Luck however ran out on him on the 24th of August 2020 when he was arrested by police operatives attached to the Divisional Police headquarters, Oke Ero in Kwara state and was subsequently transferred to the criminal investigation department, CID, Ilorin for further discreet investigation.
“During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspect is on the police wanted list for the role he actively played in a criminal case along with one Oguntoye Bayo and eight others presently standing trial before the high court of Justice Ilorin, as a result of their riotous action in Odo Owa and its neighboring communities on 31st March, 2020 and 1st April, 2020, resulting in the death of two persons namely Emmanuel Akinola and Sunday Olukosi, while the third person, Olasunkanmi Agboola later died while receiving medical attention over the injuries sustained during the attack.
“Discreet investigation conducted by the police reveals that you Babatunde Akinola A.K.A Agoro actively took part in the riot and has been on the run since then until luck ran against you leading to your arrest.”
Prosecution counsel, Sgt. Isa Amotekun, presented an application motion ex-parte requesting the defendant be remanded at the Federal Correctional Service pending the outcome of the ongoing police investigation.
The application was accompany by an 11-paragrah affidavit deposed to by one Sgt. Muhammed Kamaldeen of the state CID, filed and dated 10th September, 2020.
He noted that the case file has been sent to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice, urging the court to grant his application.
Defense counsels, led by O.M Odeh and Adelokun Adeoye, urged the court to admit the suspect to bail, with a call for speedy determination of the matter, claiming the defendant has stayed too long in police detention.
In his ruling, Magistrate Abayomi said the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter.
He however granted the application of the prosecution counsel as investigation is still on going. He ordered the remand of the suspect at the state CID.
Magistrate Abayomi adjourned the matter till the 8th of October 2020 for mention.
