Alleged arson: Court remands Osun monarch, four others

An Osun State High Court sitting in Ede has remanded a traditional ruler, Elegbedi of Egbedi in Osun State, Oba Muideen Azeez, and four other defendants in the Ile-Ife Custodial Centre.

The defendants were remanded on Thursday following their inability to perfect the bail condition granted by the court.

DAILY POST had earlier reported that the monarch and the other defendants were standing trial for alleged arson and malicious damage of a farm in Iloba town.

Akibu Abioye, Yisa Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran and Sarafadeen Abioye were the other defendants standing trial alongside the monarch before the court on a 29-count charge.

Justice Kudirat Akano at the resumed proceedings on Thursday had granted the bail application of the defendants in the sum of N5m with two sureties each.

One of the two sureties, Justice Akano stated, must be a level 16 civil servant with landed properties within the court jurisdiction.

She added that the other must be a part-two monarch.

The defendants were however unable to meet the conditions, and the vehicle of the correctional centre was observed driving them out of the court premises around 2:10 pm.

The prosecution was led by Abiodun Badiora, from the state Ministry of Justice, while Bukola Atobatele appeared for the defendants.

Justice Akano subsequently adjourned the matter till October 16 for the continuation of hearing.

The five defendants had been arraigned on June 27, 2024, on 29 counts of arson, destruction of farmland, illegal possession of firearms and robbery.

According to the charge sheet, the details of the offences allegedly committed by the defendants are, “Oba Muideen Olanivi Azeez (A.K.A Asemalu,) Akeeb Azeez Abioye, Yisa Surajudeen Akolapo (A.K.A. Kola Isah), Rasidi Ayandiran, Sarafadeen Abioye and others at large, on or about September 3, 2019, at a farm in Oloba within the Ede Judicial Division, while armed with firearms and offensive weapons, robbed Wasilatu Akinola and other women processing palm oil with her of about 70 kegs of palm oil, palm kernel, palm fruits, goats and other domestic animals valued at about N10m, and at, or immediately before or immediately after the time of the robbery did use personal violence to the said Wasilatu Akinola and other women with her.

“Oba Muideen Olanivi Azeez (A.k.a Asemalu,) Akeeb Azeez Abioye, Yisa Surajudeen Akolapo (A.k.a. Kola Isah), Rasidi Ayandiran, Sarafadeen Abioye and others at large, on September 3, 2019, at a farm in Iloba within Ede Judicial Division willingly and unlawfully set the palace of Oba Lasisi Gbadamosi, Oloba of Iloba and other buildings in Iloba town on fire.”

The charge sheet revealed that the offences contravened Sections 402, 403A, 443, 2(1), and 249(1) of the State Criminal Law 2002.